Host nation Japan easily beat Australia as the sports programme at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics finally got underway with a softball game in disaster-wracked Fukushima on Wednesday.

Japan's 8-1 victory, in a sport returning to the Olympic fold for the first time since 2008, took place two days before the opening ceremony of the pandemic-delayed Games.

Spectators were absent under the stringent coronavirus measures in place for an Olympics that is facing widespread opposition from the public in Japan, where infections are rising.

Japan has had to wait 13 years to defend the title they won at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and they dominated their Australian opponents in Fukushima, the site of the tsunami-triggered nuclear disaster in 2011.

Their toughest challenge is likely to come from the United States, which play Italy in the second game on Wednesday.

Host nation Japan easily beat Australia as the sports programme at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics finally got underway with a softball game in disaster-wracked Fukushima on Wednesday.

Host nation Japan easily beat Australia as the sports programme at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics finally got underway with a softball game in disaster-wracked Fukushima on Wednesday. Japan's 8-1 victory, in a sport returning to the Olympic fold for the first time since 2008, took place two days before the opening ceremony of the pandemic-delayed Games. Spectators were absent under the stringent coronavirus measures in place for an Olympics that is facing widespread opposition from the public in Japan, where infections are rising. Japan has had to wait 13 years to defend the title they won at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and they dominated their Australian opponents in Fukushima, the site of the tsunami-triggered nuclear disaster in 2011. Their toughest challenge is likely to come from the United States, which play Italy in the second game on Wednesday.

Tokyo Olympics sports start with a softball game, Japan routs Australia 8-1

Inside a rundown building in Kariobangi lies a boxing dojo reserved almost exclusively for women and girls, who train under the watchful eye of coach Alfred Analo Anjere, founder of BoxGirls Kenya. In 14 years, more than 3,000 girls and women have taken up the martial art at the centre, many of them to learn self-defense and protect themselves from men.

Boxing proves a lifeline for women from Nairobi slums

A pair of goals from Swedish forward Stina Blackstenius spelled catastrophe for the United States on Wednesday, as they suffered a shock 3-0 defeat in their Tokyo 2020 debut.

Fifth-ranked Sweden put the pressure on almost immediately with three shots in the first eight minutes, as the four-time Olympic gold medalists showed little sign of the stellar unbeaten run they have enjoyed since 2019.

Forward Stina Blackstenius converted in the 25th minute, rocketing a header past U.S. keeper Alyssa Naeher with an assist from Sofia Jakobsson. The goalie had five saves in the first half as a dominant Swedish forward line crashed through the Americans' defenses.

Midfielder Rose Lavelle nearly equalized with a header in minute 45 off a corner kick from Christen Press but hit the post.

The addition of veteran midfielder Julie Ertz did little to revive the U.S. in the second half, as Blackstenius again scored in the 54th minute.

The match was personal for Team USA: The Swedes knocked the four-time World Cup winners out of the tournament on penalties in the quarter-finals in 2016.

But their much-hoped-for revenge in front of 48,000 empty seats inside the Tokyo Stadium was not to be, as forward Christen Press missed a wide-open net at close range midway through the second half.

Swedish midfielder Lina Hurtig then heaped on more pain with a clinical header to give her side a three-goal cushion a minute later, ending the United States' 44-game unbeaten streak.

"We (have) developed our game and our play," Blackstenius said after the match. "We have so much quality in every player. Every player is also very different from the other."

The Rio defeat marked the U.S. team's earliest exit in Olympic history, after previously reaching the final of every edition of the Games since 1996 when the women's event was introduced.

The two sides drew 1-1 in an April friendly, the only blemish to the United States' 2021 record of 11 wins in 12 matches and a prescient warning of the challenges the team would face in their 2020 Tokyo kickoff.

The defeat was the United States' first under head coach Vlatko Andonovski, who took over from Jill Ellis in 2019.

"We played a little bit tight and just hurt ourselves a lot," said 2012 gold medallist and veteran forward Megan Rapinoe. "They took their chances, got into better space, and inevitably scored more goals."

The pandemic-postponed Games kicked off earlier Wednesday with a victory for the Olympic hosts, as Japan's softball team walloped Australia 8-1 at the Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium.

The United States next face New Zealand in the group stage, while Sweden play Australia, both on Saturday.

A pair of goals from Swedish forward Stina Blackstenius spelled catastrophe for the United States on Wednesday, as they suffered a shock 3-0 defeat in their Tokyo 2020 debut.

A pair of goals from Swedish forward Stina Blackstenius spelled catastrophe for the United States on Wednesday, as they suffered a shock 3-0 defeat in their Tokyo 2020 debut. Fifth-ranked Sweden put the pressure on almost immediately with three shots in the first eight minutes, as the four-time Olympic gold medalists showed little sign of the stellar unbeaten run they have enjoyed since 2019. Forward Stina Blackstenius converted in the 25th minute, rocketing a header past U.S. keeper Alyssa Naeher with an assist from Sofia Jakobsson. The goalie had five saves in the first half as a dominant Swedish forward line crashed through the Americans' defenses. Midfielder Rose Lavelle nearly equalized with a header in minute 45 off a corner kick from Christen Press but hit the post. The addition of veteran midfielder Julie Ertz did little to revive the U.S. in the second half, as Blackstenius again scored in the 54th minute. The match was personal for Team USA: The Swedes knocked the four-time World Cup winners out of the tournament on penalties in the quarter-finals in 2016. But their much-hoped-for revenge in front of 48,000 empty seats inside the Tokyo Stadium was not to be, as forward Christen Press missed a wide-open net at close range midway through the second half. Swedish midfielder Lina Hurtig then heaped on more pain with a clinical header to give her side a three-goal cushion a minute later, ending the United States' 44-game unbeaten streak. "We (have) developed our game and our play," Blackstenius said after the match. "We have so much quality in every player. Every player is also very different from the other." The Rio defeat marked the U.S. team's earliest exit in Olympic history, after previously reaching the final of every edition of the Games since 1996 when the women's event was introduced. The two sides drew 1-1 in an April friendly, the only blemish to the United States' 2021 record of 11 wins in 12 matches and a prescient warning of the challenges the team would face in their 2020 Tokyo kickoff. The defeat was the United States' first under head coach Vlatko Andonovski, who took over from Jill Ellis in 2019. "We played a little bit tight and just hurt ourselves a lot," said 2012 gold medallist and veteran forward Megan Rapinoe. "They took their chances, got into better space, and inevitably scored more goals." The pandemic-postponed Games kicked off earlier Wednesday with a victory for the Olympic hosts, as Japan's softball team walloped Australia 8-1 at the Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium. The United States next face New Zealand in the group stage, while Sweden play Australia, both on Saturday.

Football: Sweden's women stun U.S. with 3-0 thrashing in Tokyo Olympics opener

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine was given the all-clear to travel to Tokyo for the Olympics on Wednesday after being placed into Covid-19 safety protocols this week.

The 26-year-old, who played in all four of the United States' recent exhibition matches in Las Vegas, averaging 10.8 points and 2.5 rebounds, was sidelined on Monday.

USA Basketball said at the time he did not travel with the three-time defending champions to Japan "out of an abundance of caution" after starting Covid-19 health and safety measures.

But it did not say if he contracted the virus or was being kept back for contact tracing.

"US Olympic men's basketball team member Zach LaVine has cleared USA Basketball's health and safety protocols and will join the USA team in Tokyo Thursday afternoon," USA Basketball said in a statement Wednesday, without giving further details.

The US squad has already lost Washington guard Bradley Beal after he was placed into Covid-19 protocols, and center Kevin Love to a calf injury.

The Americans added Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee and San Antonio Spurs guard Keldon Johnson to replace Beal and Love.

The US squad, which opens its Olympic campaign on Sunday against France, is set to add three more players in coming days following the conclusion of the NBA Finals -- Phoenix guard Devin Booker and Milwaukee's Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton.

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine was given the all-clear to travel to Tokyo for the Olympics on Wednesday after being placed into Covid-19 safety protocols this week.

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine was given the all-clear to travel to Tokyo for the Olympics on Wednesday after being placed into Covid-19 safety protocols this week. The 26-year-old, who played in all four of the United States' recent exhibition matches in Las Vegas, averaging 10.8 points and 2.5 rebounds, was sidelined on Monday. USA Basketball said at the time he did not travel with the three-time defending champions to Japan "out of an abundance of caution" after starting Covid-19 health and safety measures. But it did not say if he contracted the virus or was being kept back for contact tracing. "US Olympic men's basketball team member Zach LaVine has cleared USA Basketball's health and safety protocols and will join the USA team in Tokyo Thursday afternoon," USA Basketball said in a statement Wednesday, without giving further details. The US squad has already lost Washington guard Bradley Beal after he was placed into Covid-19 protocols, and center Kevin Love to a calf injury. The Americans added Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee and San Antonio Spurs guard Keldon Johnson to replace Beal and Love. The US squad, which opens its Olympic campaign on Sunday against France, is set to add three more players in coming days following the conclusion of the NBA Finals -- Phoenix guard Devin Booker and Milwaukee's Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton.

NBA star Zach LaVine gets Olympics all-clear after Covid-19 scare

Coronavirus cases among Olympic contenders and their support staff&nbsp;are on the rise and around 15% of those are unvaccinated. This is leading to admonitions from medical experts about potential far-reaching consequences.&nbsp;

Set to start officially on Friday with the opening ceremony, the Tokyo&nbsp;Olympic games were promoted as safe from any danger by organisers.

However, they have so far been tormented by Covid infections among competitors, hotel workers, and others associated with the event and many of those partaking have not been vaccinated.&nbsp;

A total of 67 cases have been detected among those certified for the Games since most competitors and authorities started showing up on July 1, authorities said on Tuesday. The top Tokyo Games official&nbsp;didn't rule out dropping the event completely if cases&nbsp;spike.&nbsp;

"You're now introducing risk factors from elsewhere," Dr. Nitin Mohan, a public health consultant, revealed to CBC News.

"Somewhere there will be a breaking point."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/australia-clinches-third-olympics-after-brisbane-declared-host-of-2032-games-399398" hreflang="en">Australia clinches third Olympics after Brisbane declared host of 2032 Games</a>

A coach with Uganda's crew tested positive on landing in Narita air terminal and isolated at a&nbsp;facility. The remainder of the group headed by transport for their host city, Izumisano, close to Osaka in western Japan.&nbsp;

Seven staff at a hotel in Hamamatsu, focal Japan, where many Brazilian competitors are remaining, tested positive, a city official said.&nbsp;

Eight competitors from the Kenya women's rugby crew are named close contacts after a positive Covid case is found on their trip to Tokyo, said an official&nbsp;with the southwestern city of Kurume.

Australian tennis player Alex de Minaur tested positive for COVID-19 before his takeoff for Tokyo, the Australian Olympic Committee said.

An individual from the Nigerian Olympics contingent is in a medical clinic subsequent to testing positive at Narita air terminal, as per media reports.

Below are the other main cases.&nbsp;

JULY 17 - Fifteen people test positive for the virus, the organisers say, including the first case at the athletes' village - a visitor from abroad involved in organising the Games. The rest are two members of the media, seven contractors, and five members of the Games personnel.

JULY 18 - Ten people, including two South African male soccer players staying at the athletes' village, tested positive for the virus, organizers say. This is the first time athletes have been found positive within the village. The others are one athlete under a 14-day quarantine period, one member of the media, one contractor, and five Games personnel.

JULY 19 - Three people - one member of the Games personnel, one member of the media, and one contractor - tested positive for the virus. Twenty-one people in the South African soccer delegation are categorised as close contacts, following positive test results for two soccer players from that country. The number of close contacts is later revised down to 18.

Those identified as close contacts can still take part in the competition if they are found negative in a test conducted within six hours of the start of their event.

An alternate on the U.S. women's gymnastics team tests positive and another alternate is close contact, USA Gymnastics said. They remain at the team's training camp just east of Tokyo.

JULY 20 - Nine people, including one athlete staying at the Olympic village, tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The other eight were a volunteer worker, a member of the Games personnel, and six contractors, according to Reuters.

Four competitors have tested positive up until this point — out of the 11,000 contenders expected to remain in the Olympic town.&nbsp;

In one case, the initial six individuals from Brazil's judo crew who had arrived in Tokyo were isolated after COVID-19 cases were found among the staff at an inn in Hamamatsu, southwest of Tokyo.

"Tokyo is undergoing a surge, and to bring in people from all over, with all the different challenges they have, into a country and a city that's already having its own challenges that's definitely not a public health move. Still, if the Games can maintain fairly high restrictions, the event should be able to avoid becoming a "total disaster," said Dr. Andrew Morris.

A few cases among members are not out of the ordinary, Morris said, however, the possibility of the Olympics fuelling a mass-transmission is improbable.&nbsp;

"If there is, it's going to be&nbsp;breaches of protocol in the Athletes' Village," &nbsp;he added.

Coronavirus cases among Olympic contenders and their support staff are on the rise and around 15% of those are unvaccinated. This is leading to admonitions from medical experts about potential far-reaching consequences.

Coronavirus cases among Olympic contenders and their support staff are on the rise and around 15% of those are unvaccinated. This is leading to admonitions from medical experts about potential far-reaching consequences. Set to start officially on Friday with the opening ceremony, the Tokyo Olympic games were promoted as safe from any danger by organisers. However, they have so far been tormented by Covid infections among competitors, hotel workers, and others associated with the event and many of those partaking have not been vaccinated. A total of 67 cases have been detected among those certified for the Games since most competitors and authorities started showing up on July 1, authorities said on Tuesday. The top Tokyo Games official didn't rule out dropping the event completely if cases spike. "You're now introducing risk factors from elsewhere," Dr. Nitin Mohan, a public health consultant, revealed to CBC News. "Somewhere there will be a breaking point." ALSO READ: Australia clinches third Olympics after Brisbane declared host of 2032 Games A coach with Uganda's crew tested positive on landing in Narita air terminal and isolated at a facility. The remainder of the group headed by transport for their host city, Izumisano, close to Osaka in western Japan. Seven staff at a hotel in Hamamatsu, focal Japan, where many Brazilian competitors are remaining, tested positive, a city official said. Eight competitors from the Kenya women's rugby crew are named close contacts after a positive Covid case is found on their trip to Tokyo, said an official with the southwestern city of Kurume. Australian tennis player Alex de Minaur tested positive for COVID-19 before his takeoff for Tokyo, the Australian Olympic Committee said. An individual from the Nigerian Olympics contingent is in a medical clinic subsequent to testing positive at Narita air terminal, as per media reports. Below are the other main cases. JULY 17 - Fifteen people test positive for the virus, the organisers say, including the first case at the athletes' village - a visitor from abroad involved in organising the Games. The rest are two members of the media, seven contractors, and five members of the Games personnel. JULY 18 - Ten people, including two South African male soccer players staying at the athletes' village, tested positive for the virus, organizers say. This is the first time athletes have been found positive within the village. The others are one athlete under a 14-day quarantine period, one member of the media, one contractor, and five Games personnel. JULY 19 - Three people - one member of the Games personnel, one member of the media, and one contractor - tested positive for the virus. Twenty-one people in the South African soccer delegation are categorised as close contacts, following positive test results for two soccer players from that country. The number of close contacts is later revised down to 18. Those identified as close contacts can still take part in the competition if they are found negative in a test conducted within six hours of the start of their event. An alternate on the U.S. women's gymnastics team tests positive and another alternate is close contact, USA Gymnastics said. They remain at the team's training camp just east of Tokyo. JULY 20 - Nine people, including one athlete staying at the Olympic village, tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The other eight were a volunteer worker, a member of the Games personnel, and six contractors, according to Reuters. Four competitors have tested positive up until this point — out of the 11,000 contenders expected to remain in the Olympic town. In one case, the initial six individuals from Brazil's judo crew who had arrived in Tokyo were isolated after COVID-19 cases were found among the staff at an inn in Hamamatsu, southwest of Tokyo. "Tokyo is undergoing a surge, and to bring in people from all over, with all the different challenges they have, into a country and a city that's already having its own challenges that's definitely not a public health move. Still, if the Games can maintain fairly high restrictions, the event should be able to avoid becoming a "total disaster," said Dr. Andrew Morris. A few cases among members are not out of the ordinary, Morris said, however, the possibility of the Olympics fuelling a mass-transmission is improbable. "If there is, it's going to be breaches of protocol in the Athletes' Village," he added.

Tokyo Olympics: Situation worsens amid raging COVID-19 pandemic as cases rise to 67

The road to Tokyo 2020 has positively not been smooth. However, in the wake of being rescheduled because of the worldwide pandemic and postponed by nearly 12 months, the world's greatest brandishing event is at long last set to transform into action.

The stage is set and the arrangements are finished. From July 23 to August 8, 2021, top competitors from more than 200 nations will seek greatness in the greatest multi-sport event.&nbsp;

The Indian crew as well, have fired up their preparations and would expect to get their best medal haul. Up until now, India has bagged the most number of medals in the 2012 London Olympics by winning two silver and four bronze medals.&nbsp;

Throughout the entire existence of the Olympic Games, India has won an aggregate of 28 medals which involves nine gold, seven silver, and 12 bronze medals. The hockey team has been the most successful by winning 11 medals, trailed by Wrestling with five medals.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/the-invisible-hand-behind-the-tokyo-olympics-399323" hreflang="en">The invisible hand behind the Tokyo Olympics</a>

With a look at the truth, India's populace is enormous and we have just 28 Olympic medals in our kitty up until now. To comprehend the 'why' better, we should return to the set of experiences. India started to take part in the Olympics in the year 1900. The Indian field hockey team was prevailing in the opposition, making great dread among the adversaries post the 1920s. After exceptional exhibitions particularly in Hockey, India's reality remaining in the Olympic games started to venture down.&nbsp;

India won a gold in Field Hockey in 1980 and the following time we won a medal was in 1996. You may feel that in the midst of these, what compromised with our sporting culture? There are various perspectives on this subject. Just the Government or the foundation, absence of offices isn't to be accused. Indians for quite a while believed sports to be a sporting movement. How might we deliver medalists when we urge kids just to excel in academics?

It is said that the year 1996 set apart the start of another time for India at the games. Going to the trendy, it is to be accepted that Abhinav Bindra's gold in 2008 changed the elements of sports in India. With not dismissing anybody, sports in India have encountered high points and low points and this is the ideal opportunity to move towards greatness. Individuals examine different games without simply adhering to one and this is an accomplishment in itself.&nbsp;

India delivers such countless commendable competitors consistently but then our medal tally never takes off high and sports infrastructure continues to hold the key.

India&nbsp;needs an appropriate framework for preparation and practice sessions of competitors that could make them more skillful and exceptional to manage a-list contenders. It would have been far superior if our competitors would gain admittance to a better foundation and will play the whole way across the nation to remain rehearsed.

With plans like Target Olympic Podium Scheme, Khelo India, Fit India, we are seeing the Government putting accentuation on allowing an equivalent opportunity to competitors to exhibit their ability. Our competitors have endeavored to get the due acknowledgment that they merit.

Every Olympics is challenging, Tokyo 2020 will be especially overwhelming and will test the personality of each competitor. It's difficult to get ready for an event of this extent when the world is going through such difficulties. Adjusting to the changing circumstances will be the key.&nbsp;

Nevertheless, these entanglements, going into the Olympics, the current unforeseen will be India's best chance at the Olympics than ever. While arriving at double-digits in the medal count isn't completely incomprehensible, this can be India's best chance at Tokyo 2020.

While 28 medals in the Olympics so far can't be named as spectacular, although, there has been a fast ascent in interest in Olympic games in India. Sports infrastructure has improved and with the developing spotlight on sports and fitness, there is no motivation behind why India can't improve.&nbsp;

Like clockwork, basically for a short period, the focus shifts to the Olympics and everyone applauds the Olympic medalists. Whether India penetrates the double-digit hindrance or not, we trust new whizzes rise up out of Tokyo who proceeds to direct and motivate the country.

The road to Tokyo 2020 has positively not been smooth. However, in the wake of being rescheduled because of the worldwide pandemic and postponed by nearly 12 months, the world's greatest brandishing event is at long last set to transform into action.

The road to Tokyo 2020 has positively not been smooth. However, in the wake of being rescheduled because of the worldwide pandemic and postponed by nearly 12 months, the world's greatest brandishing event is at long last set to transform into action. The stage is set and the arrangements are finished. From July 23 to August 8, 2021, top competitors from more than 200 nations will seek greatness in the greatest multi-sport event. The Indian crew as well, have fired up their preparations and would expect to get their best medal haul. Up until now, India has bagged the most number of medals in the 2012 London Olympics by winning two silver and four bronze medals. Throughout the entire existence of the Olympic Games, India has won an aggregate of 28 medals which involves nine gold, seven silver, and 12 bronze medals. The hockey team has been the most successful by winning 11 medals, trailed by Wrestling with five medals. ALSO READ: The invisible hand behind the Tokyo Olympics With a look at the truth, India's populace is enormous and we have just 28 Olympic medals in our kitty up until now. To comprehend the 'why' better, we should return to the set of experiences. India started to take part in the Olympics in the year 1900. The Indian field hockey team was prevailing in the opposition, making great dread among the adversaries post the 1920s. After exceptional exhibitions particularly in Hockey, India's reality remaining in the Olympic games started to venture down. India won a gold in Field Hockey in 1980 and the following time we won a medal was in 1996. You may feel that in the midst of these, what compromised with our sporting culture? There are various perspectives on this subject. Just the Government or the foundation, absence of offices isn't to be accused. Indians for quite a while believed sports to be a sporting movement. How might we deliver medalists when we urge kids just to excel in academics? It is said that the year 1996 set apart the start of another time for India at the games. Going to the trendy, it is to be accepted that Abhinav Bindra's gold in 2008 changed the elements of sports in India. With not dismissing anybody, sports in India have encountered high points and low points and this is the ideal opportunity to move towards greatness. Individuals examine different games without simply adhering to one and this is an accomplishment in itself. India delivers such countless commendable competitors consistently but then our medal tally never takes off high and sports infrastructure continues to hold the key. India needs an appropriate framework for preparation and practice sessions of competitors that could make them more skillful and exceptional to manage a-list contenders. It would have been far superior if our competitors would gain admittance to a better foundation and will play the whole way across the nation to remain rehearsed. With plans like Target Olympic Podium Scheme, Khelo India, Fit India, we are seeing the Government putting accentuation on allowing an equivalent opportunity to competitors to exhibit their ability. Our competitors have endeavored to get the due acknowledgment that they merit. Every Olympics is challenging, Tokyo 2020 will be especially overwhelming and will test the personality of each competitor. It's difficult to get ready for an event of this extent when the world is going through such difficulties. Adjusting to the changing circumstances will be the key. Nevertheless, these entanglements, going into the Olympics, the current unforeseen will be India's best chance at the Olympics than ever. While arriving at double-digits in the medal count isn't completely incomprehensible, this can be India's best chance at Tokyo 2020. While 28 medals in the Olympics so far can't be named as spectacular, although, there has been a fast ascent in interest in Olympic games in India. Sports infrastructure has improved and with the developing spotlight on sports and fitness, there is no motivation behind why India can't improve. Like clockwork, basically for a short period, the focus shifts to the Olympics and everyone applauds the Olympic medalists. Whether India penetrates the double-digit hindrance or not, we trust new whizzes rise up out of Tokyo who proceeds to direct and motivate the country.

Tokyo Olympics: Can India breach the double-digit medal tally this year?

On the first day of action in Tokyo, Australia's Olympic team faced a setback, with a repentant Jamie Kermond testing positive for cocaine.&nbsp;

Australia's chef de mission at the 2020 Games, Ian Chesterman, said on Wednesday that the showjumper's membership of the team had been terminated after he had brought the game into notoriety.&nbsp;

Equestrian Australia also suspended Kermond on Wednesday morning.&nbsp;

“Equestrian Australia has provisionally suspended Jumping athlete Jamie Kermond under the Australian National Anti-Doping Policy 2021. The mandatory Provisional Suspension Notice asserts Mr. Kermond returned a positive A-sample for a metabolite of cocaine following a test conducted by Sport Integrity Australia on 26 June 2021."

"Mr. Kermond is prohibited from participating in any WADA compliant event, including the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, while the provisional suspension is in place," the statement read.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/australia-clinches-third-olympics-after-brisbane-declared-host-of-2032-games-399398" hreflang="en">Australia clinches third Olympics after Brisbane declared host of 2032 Games</a>

The Australian Olympic Committee said in a release: “The Australian Olympic Committee has been made aware of the provisional suspension of equestrian athlete Jamie Kermond after being informed by Sport&nbsp;Integrity Australia as an interested party. The Australian Olympic Team Selection Committee will consider the matter later today.”

Jamie Kermond was set to make his Olympics debut. Yet, his 'A' example returned positive for cocaine use, prompting his temporary suspension.&nbsp;

“It is likely that the positive result was from a single recreational use of the drug at a social event and had no connection with my sport of equestrian,” Kermond said in a statement.

“I am extremely upset and remorseful as to what has happened and I accept full responsibility. I am truly sorry as I have let a lot of people down including my family and teammates.

“Hopefully one day I can be forgiven for my mistake [and make] amends through better actions and continued contribution to the sport I know and love.”

On the first day of action in Tokyo, Australia's Olympic team faced a setback, with a repentant Jamie Kermond testing positive for cocaine. Australia's chef de mission at the 2020 Games, Ian Chesterman, said on Wednesday that the showjumper's membership of the team had been terminated after he had brought the game into notoriety.

On the first day of action in Tokyo, Australia's Olympic team faced a setback, with a repentant Jamie Kermond testing positive for cocaine. Australia's chef de mission at the 2020 Games, Ian Chesterman, said on Wednesday that the showjumper's membership of the team had been terminated after he had brought the game into notoriety. Equestrian Australia also suspended Kermond on Wednesday morning. “Equestrian Australia has provisionally suspended Jumping athlete Jamie Kermond under the Australian National Anti-Doping Policy 2021. The mandatory Provisional Suspension Notice asserts Mr. Kermond returned a positive A-sample for a metabolite of cocaine following a test conducted by Sport Integrity Australia on 26 June 2021." "Mr. Kermond is prohibited from participating in any WADA compliant event, including the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, while the provisional suspension is in place," the statement read. ALSO READ: Australia clinches third Olympics after Brisbane declared host of 2032 Games The Australian Olympic Committee said in a release: “The Australian Olympic Committee has been made aware of the provisional suspension of equestrian athlete Jamie Kermond after being informed by Sport Integrity Australia as an interested party. The Australian Olympic Team Selection Committee will consider the matter later today.” Jamie Kermond was set to make his Olympics debut. Yet, his 'A' example returned positive for cocaine use, prompting his temporary suspension. “It is likely that the positive result was from a single recreational use of the drug at a social event and had no connection with my sport of equestrian,” Kermond said in a statement. “I am extremely upset and remorseful as to what has happened and I accept full responsibility. I am truly sorry as I have let a lot of people down including my family and teammates. “Hopefully one day I can be forgiven for my mistake [and make] amends through better actions and continued contribution to the sport I know and love.”

Australian showjumper Jamie Kermond suspended from Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for cocaine

Weightlifting faces a fight for its Olympic future at the Tokyo Games, following decades dogged by corruption and doping scandals.

A pure strength and technique event, exemplifying the Olympic motto of "Citius, Altius, Fortius" -- "Faster, Higher, Stronger" -- it was one of the original sports at the first modern Olympics in 1896.

But 125 years later it faces expulsion from Paris 2024 with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) repeatedly warning the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) that the sport's Olympic status is hanging by a thread.

Weightlifting desperately needs a clean Games, but even that may not be enough to save it from the axe.

"The situation is becoming more and more grave," warned the IOC President Thomas Bach at the end of February.

"The executive committee expresses its extreme concern at the lack of significant changes with regard to the management and the culture within the IWF," Bach said.

"Many requested changes have been ignored by the IWF despite all the warnings we issued."

The IOC's patience has clearly almost run out for a sport that has recorded 110 doping offences at the Olympics -- more than a quarter of the total ever recorded across all sports -- and has seen 49 athletes stripped of their medals, according to an AFP count.

In order to distance itself from doping, weightlifting first changed all its bodyweight categories after the 1992 Barcelona Games so new "clean" records would be set.

Sadly, the exercise had to be repeated in 1998 and again after the Asian Games of 2018.

"If these concerns are not addressed in a satisfactory and timely way, the IOC executive committee will have to review the place of weightlifting on the programme of the Paris 2024 and future Olympic Games."

Culture of corruption

An explosive documentary by German TV channel ARD in January 2020 blew the lid off what it described as a "culture of corruption" running through the sport.

High-level athletes, it alleged, had been allowed to skirt doping controls and had seen their adverse test results altered in exchange for bribes.

Tamas Ajan, the IWF's long-standing Hungarian president, rejected the accusations as "lies" before resigning.

Five months later, Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren delivered a damning report spotlighting 40 positive doping controls that had been covered up by the IWF, and ex-boss Ajan.

The IOC ordered the IWF to implement wide-ranging reforms and last month it held a one-day congress to try to ratify a new constitution, but it ended in stalemate.

The IWF will reportedly reconvene in Doha in August to try again, but unless the deadlock can be broken -- and with more than 50 member federations reportedly dissenting that looks unlikely -- weightlifting could find itself out of the Olympic fold.

It will hardly come as a surprise because, even before the ARD revelations, powerhouse lifting nations such as China, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Turkey had all suffered suspensions from international competition for repeated doping violations.

Weightlifters from Thailand, Egypt, Malaysia and Romania will not be on the stage at the Tokyo International Forum for the same reason.

And even if these Olympics, which begin on Saturday and run until August 4, go off without a doping hitch, Paris 2024 will still see a reduced weightlifting programme.

The IOC has already decided to shed four of the 13 weight divisions contested in Tokyo with the number of athletes slashed from 196 to 120. In Rio five years ago there were 260.

But Tokyo looks increasingly like being weightlifting's Olympic swansong if the IWF cannot get its tainted house in order.

"Some sports are considered to be more at risk than others (from doping) and, of course, the emphasis is on them," Olivier Niggli, the general manager of WADA, told AFP ahead of the Tokyo Games.

"Weightlifting is one of them."

&nbsp;

Weightlifting faces a fight for its Olympic future at the Tokyo Games, following decades dogged by corruption and doping scandals. A pure strength and technique event, exemplifying the Olympic motto of "Citius, Altius, Fortius" -- "Faster, Higher, Stronger" -- it was one of the original sports at the first modern Olympics in 1896.

Weightlifting faces a fight for its Olympic future at the Tokyo Games, following decades dogged by corruption and doping scandals. A pure strength and technique event, exemplifying the Olympic motto of "Citius, Altius, Fortius" -- "Faster, Higher, Stronger" -- it was one of the original sports at the first modern Olympics in 1896. But 125 years later it faces expulsion from Paris 2024 with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) repeatedly warning the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) that the sport's Olympic status is hanging by a thread. Weightlifting desperately needs a clean Games, but even that may not be enough to save it from the axe. "The situation is becoming more and more grave," warned the IOC President Thomas Bach at the end of February. "The executive committee expresses its extreme concern at the lack of significant changes with regard to the management and the culture within the IWF," Bach said. "Many requested changes have been ignored by the IWF despite all the warnings we issued." The IOC's patience has clearly almost run out for a sport that has recorded 110 doping offences at the Olympics -- more than a quarter of the total ever recorded across all sports -- and has seen 49 athletes stripped of their medals, according to an AFP count. In order to distance itself from doping, weightlifting first changed all its bodyweight categories after the 1992 Barcelona Games so new "clean" records would be set. Sadly, the exercise had to be repeated in 1998 and again after the Asian Games of 2018. "If these concerns are not addressed in a satisfactory and timely way, the IOC executive committee will have to review the place of weightlifting on the programme of the Paris 2024 and future Olympic Games." Culture of corruption An explosive documentary by German TV channel ARD in January 2020 blew the lid off what it described as a "culture of corruption" running through the sport. High-level athletes, it alleged, had been allowed to skirt doping controls and had seen their adverse test results altered in exchange for bribes. Tamas Ajan, the IWF's long-standing Hungarian president, rejected the accusations as "lies" before resigning. Five months later, Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren delivered a damning report spotlighting 40 positive doping controls that had been covered up by the IWF, and ex-boss Ajan. The IOC ordered the IWF to implement wide-ranging reforms and last month it held a one-day congress to try to ratify a new constitution, but it ended in stalemate. The IWF will reportedly reconvene in Doha in August to try again, but unless the deadlock can be broken -- and with more than 50 member federations reportedly dissenting that looks unlikely -- weightlifting could find itself out of the Olympic fold. It will hardly come as a surprise because, even before the ARD revelations, powerhouse lifting nations such as China, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Turkey had all suffered suspensions from international competition for repeated doping violations. Weightlifters from Thailand, Egypt, Malaysia and Romania will not be on the stage at the Tokyo International Forum for the same reason. And even if these Olympics, which begin on Saturday and run until August 4, go off without a doping hitch, Paris 2024 will still see a reduced weightlifting programme. The IOC has already decided to shed four of the 13 weight divisions contested in Tokyo with the number of athletes slashed from 196 to 120. In Rio five years ago there were 260. But Tokyo looks increasingly like being weightlifting's Olympic swansong if the IWF cannot get its tainted house in order. "Some sports are considered to be more at risk than others (from doping) and, of course, the emphasis is on them," Olivier Niggli, the general manager of WADA, told AFP ahead of the Tokyo Games. "Weightlifting is one of them."

Doping-tainted weightlifting faces a fight for its Olympic future

Olympic virus rules mean spectators are banned, but one furry fan still tried to sneak into the Fukushima softball venue hosting the first sports event of the Tokyo Games: a bear.

The animals are common across Japan and regularly spark frantic hunts when they venture into towns, where they have been known to attack and even kill local residents.

A Fukushima police spokesman confirmed the ursine intruder was spotted last night and then again this morning, just hours before the opening pitch in a match pitting hosts Japan against Australia.

"A guard found a bear inside Azuma Sports Park early in the morning yesterday. We also received similar information this morning," the spokesman told AFP.

"We couldn't find or capture the bear, and while there won't be any spectators at the stadium, we are on alert and searching for the bear around the site."

Local media identified the animal as an Asian black bear, with the Sports Hochi daily saying the entire contingent of Olympic guards assigned to the venue spent the night searching for the creature.

They even blasted music and let off firecrackers in an effort to flush out the bear, the newspaper said.

But the softball match, which comes just two days before the opening ceremony, went off without a hitch despite the intruder with Japan recording an easy 8-1 victory.

Last month, a brown bear sparked a massive search involving police and local hunters after it rampaged through the northern city of Sapporo, which will host the Olympic marathon.

The bear mauled a soldier and a pedestrian who were hospitalized after the attack.

It was eventually shot dead after a dramatic chase, during which it bounded along a residential street, crossed a busy road, and clawed at the gate of a military barracks.

Asian black bears are native to large parts of Japan, including the country's main island, while brown bears roam Hokkaido further north.

Olympic virus rules mean spectators are banned, but one furry fan still tried to sneak into the Fukushima softball venue hosting the first sports event of the Tokyo Games: a bear.

Olympic virus rules mean spectators are banned, but one furry fan still tried to sneak into the Fukushima softball venue hosting the first sports event of the Tokyo Games: a bear. The animals are common across Japan and regularly spark frantic hunts when they venture into towns, where they have been known to attack and even kill local residents. A Fukushima police spokesman confirmed the ursine intruder was spotted last night and then again this morning, just hours before the opening pitch in a match pitting hosts Japan against Australia. "A guard found a bear inside Azuma Sports Park early in the morning yesterday. We also received similar information this morning," the spokesman told AFP. "We couldn't find or capture the bear, and while there won't be any spectators at the stadium, we are on alert and searching for the bear around the site." Local media identified the animal as an Asian black bear, with the Sports Hochi daily saying the entire contingent of Olympic guards assigned to the venue spent the night searching for the creature. They even blasted music and let off firecrackers in an effort to flush out the bear, the newspaper said. But the softball match, which comes just two days before the opening ceremony, went off without a hitch despite the intruder with Japan recording an easy 8-1 victory. Last month, a brown bear sparked a massive search involving police and local hunters after it rampaged through the northern city of Sapporo, which will host the Olympic marathon. The bear mauled a soldier and a pedestrian who were hospitalized after the attack. It was eventually shot dead after a dramatic chase, during which it bounded along a residential street, crossed a busy road, and clawed at the gate of a military barracks. Asian black bears are native to large parts of Japan, including the country's main island, while brown bears roam Hokkaido further north.

Bear alert hits softball at Olympic Games opener

The oldest Olympic athlete was a Swedish shooter named Oscar Swahn, who was 72 years, 280 days old when he won a silver medal in the 1920 Olympics. But age is just a number for athletes competing at this year's Tokyo Olympics. From 66-year-old equestrian to 46-year-old gymnast, age is no hurdle while vying for medal at the Olympics this year. Here we take a look at some of the oldest athletes taking part in the Tokyo Olympic Games this year.

Meet the oldest athletes in Tokyo Olympics 2020

The Tokyo Olympics officially kicked off on Friday with the opening ceremony but the competition has officially began as well and fittingly it was Japanese team that registered the first victory of the olympic games.

Olympics Softball: Japan beat Australia 8-1 opening match

Head of the WHO Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has backed the staging of the Tokyo Olympics. She told International Olympic Committee (IOC) members that the Games should go ahead to show what can be done with the correct COVID safeguards.

WHO Chief Dr Tedros backs Tokyo games amid pandemic

Brazil's Olympic football men's team captain Dani Alves has played on the game's biggest stages but says he is still feeling pre-tournament 'butterflies' ahead of Thursday's opener against Germany.

The 38-year-old has made 118 appearances for the full Brazil national team, featuring in two World Cups and at club level, he won three Champions League titles with Barcelona but is set for his debut in the Games as an over-age player for the defending gold medallists.

The full-back showed he is ready to enjoy the occasion by taking to the intercom during the team's flight to Japan to read the safety instructions while wearing a flight attendant neck scarf.

"Those that know me, know I have a youthful spirit, and as it is my first time I will have the same sort of experience as the young lads. Even though I have enjoyed some big moments in my career, given this is my first time at the&nbsp;Olympics&nbsp;I feel some butterflies in my stomach," he told a news conference.

"Being here is really a special feeling. I am thankful for the opportunity. I hope I can live up to the expectations of the competition and also of our national team," he added.

Brazil won the tournament on home soil in 2016 beating Germany in the final and the pair have been drawn in Group D along with Ivory Coast and Saudi Arabia.

Germany's Olympic preparation match against Honduras on Saturday was cut short by five minutes after defender Jordan Torunarigha was allegedly racially abused but coach Stefan Kuntz said there would not be any gesture or protest made before the Brazil game.

"No, we decided yesterday as a team that as far as we are concerned that matter is concluded and Jordan said that he accepted that as well, so we are going to conclude that case there," he said.

The German team visited the athlete's village on Tuesday where they were able to meet some of the country's other competitors.

"It was really great to feel part of the whole German team, something special to see where 10,000 athletes will be and to feel that whole Olympic feeling and spirit, something I haven't experienced before," said Kuntz.

Brazil's Olympic football men's team captain Dani Alves has played on the game's biggest stages but says he is still feeling pre-tournament 'butterflies' ahead of Thursday's opener against Germany.

Brazil's Olympic football men's team captain Dani Alves has played on the game's biggest stages but says he is still feeling pre-tournament 'butterflies' ahead of Thursday's opener against Germany. The 38-year-old has made 118 appearances for the full Brazil national team, featuring in two World Cups and at club level, he won three Champions League titles with Barcelona but is set for his debut in the Games as an over-age player for the defending gold medallists. The full-back showed he is ready to enjoy the occasion by taking to the intercom during the team's flight to Japan to read the safety instructions while wearing a flight attendant neck scarf. "Those that know me, know I have a youthful spirit, and as it is my first time I will have the same sort of experience as the young lads. Even though I have enjoyed some big moments in my career, given this is my first time at the Olympics I feel some butterflies in my stomach," he told a news conference. "Being here is really a special feeling. I am thankful for the opportunity. I hope I can live up to the expectations of the competition and also of our national team," he added. Brazil won the tournament on home soil in 2016 beating Germany in the final and the pair have been drawn in Group D along with Ivory Coast and Saudi Arabia. Germany's Olympic preparation match against Honduras on Saturday was cut short by five minutes after defender Jordan Torunarigha was allegedly racially abused but coach Stefan Kuntz said there would not be any gesture or protest made before the Brazil game. "No, we decided yesterday as a team that as far as we are concerned that matter is concluded and Jordan said that he accepted that as well, so we are going to conclude that case there," he said. The German team visited the athlete's village on Tuesday where they were able to meet some of the country's other competitors. "It was really great to feel part of the whole German team, something special to see where 10,000 athletes will be and to feel that whole Olympic feeling and spirit, something I haven't experienced before," said Kuntz.

Tokyo Olympics: Brazil's captain Dani Alves feels 'butterflies' ahead of Germany opener

It’s not an official sponsor of the Olympics. It will remain invisible to the millions of viewers who begin tuning in this week. But without it, the Tokyo Games could not have happened.

The force behind the Olympic curtain is Dentsu, an advertising goliath with near mythical levels of power and influence in Japan.

As a gatekeeper to the world’s third-largest economy, it has become a major figure in international sports. It played a prominent role in Tokyo’s Olympic bid, then was named the Games’ exclusive advertising partner, bringing in a record-shattering $3.6 billion from Japanese sponsors.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/woman-raped-in-tokyo-olympic-stadium-uzbek-man-arrested-399304" hreflang="en">Woman raped in Tokyo Olympic Stadium; Uzbek man arrested</a>

With its nearly complete control over the Olympic marketing bonanza, Dentsu stood to be Japan’s biggest winner of this year’s Games. But as the pandemic has played havoc with the event, a company accustomed to always coming out on top finds itself in an unfamiliar position.

Its expectation of an enormous windfall has dwindled. The advertising campaigns and promotional events that sponsors usually mount in the months before the Olympics have been canceled or pared down, depriving Dentsu of what analysts say is one of the most lucrative parts of the sporting pageant.

And with the Olympics about to begin, some of Dentsu’s largest clients have begun pulling back. Toyota, a top sponsor, said Monday that it would not run Olympics-themed television ads in Japan during the Games, reflecting concerns about a possible public backlash against companies underwriting the event.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/why-this-us-paralympic-games-swimmer-pulled-out-of-tokyo-2020-399303" hreflang="en">Why this US Paralympic Games swimmer pulled out of Tokyo 2020</a>

For the clients that continue their Olympic advertising campaigns, Dentsu faces a serious test of its message control. Polls show that about 80% of the Japanese public opposes holding the Olympics, which were postponed by a year and will now be held amid a state of emergency in Tokyo.

“What kind of message do you send right now? It’s a really difficult question, and sponsors are definitely troubled by it,” said Osamu Ebizuka, a veteran of Dentsu’s sports marketing department who is now a visiting professor of business management at J.F. Oberlin University in Tokyo.

Dentsu, asked how it would shape its clients’ approach toward the Olympics, said that it was “not a sponsor,” so it was “not in a position to comment.”

Even with its challenges, Dentsu remains an unparalleled force in Japan. It is by far the country’s largest marketing firm, with a grip on nearly 28% of the country’s vast advertising budget.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/amid-coronavirus-crisis-tokyo-2020-chief-does-not-rule-out-cancellation-of-olympics-399237" hreflang="en">Amid coronavirus crisis, Tokyo 2020 chief does not rule out cancellation of Olympics</a>

Dentsu started life in 1901 as a news agency before realizing it was more profitable to package its content with advertisements. In the lead-up to World War II, it was merged into a state-run news service that pumped out propaganda for Japan’s Imperial Army.

Under U.S. occupation, the organization split into three parts: the ad agency Dentsu and Japan’s two largest news services, Kyodo and Jiji Press.

In the years since, Dentsu has become hard-wired into nearly every major institution in Japan. In addition to its many corporate and media connections, it has served as the unofficial communications department of the governing Liberal Democratic Party over its more than 75 years in nearly continuous power.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis-fearless-sabalenka-ready-for-new-challenge-in-tokyo-olympics-399200" hreflang="en">Tennis: Fearless Sabalenka ready for 'new challenge' in Tokyo Olympics</a>

The conspiratorially minded sometimes refer to the company as Japan’s CIA, a puppet master using its vast network to gather information and shape the nation’s fate.

The comparison is fanciful, said Ryu Honma, an author who began writing about the company after working at its rival Hakuhodo. But the company has unquestionably made itself indispensable to Japan Inc.

Dentsu is the nation’s fixer, with a reputation for getting things done, no matter how difficult. For years, it was known for a ruthless work ethic expressed in a credo called the Devil’s Ten Commandments, instructing employees to “never let go of a job, even if it kills you.”

Its clients are a who’s who of corporate Japan — part of a roster, Dentsu likes to say, that includes 95 of the world’s 100 top advertisers. It recruits from the ranks of Tokyo’s top universities and is said to show a preference for the children of politicians, celebrities and titans of industry.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/japan-projected-to-improve-medals-tally-by-50-in-tokyo-olympics-gracenote-399199" hreflang="en">Japan projected to improve medals tally by 50% in Tokyo Olympics: Gracenote</a>

Whereas most ad companies outside Japan avoid conflicts of interest by representing only one company in any given industry, Japanese firms are often less exclusive. Dentsu frequently works for competing firms in the same sector, one of the keys to its ubiquity.

Dentsu offers virtually every kind of service related to communications. Dentsu ad executives sell commercials directed by Dentsu, starring actors represented by Dentsu, to TV stations where Dentsu manages ad sales.

The company buys up entire blocks of airtime before it has sold ads to fill them. Its hold on television advertising is so tight that Japan’s competition regulator has twice issued it warnings.

It exerts considerable influence on traditional media, both broadcast and print, which are loath to offend the company and its clients for fear of losing ad dollars.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-olympics-sponsors-to-miss-opening-ceremony-as-more-athletes-catch-virus-399197" hreflang="en">Tokyo Olympics: Sponsors to miss opening ceremony as more athletes catch virus</a>

The company’s ties to the Olympics date back to the 1964 Tokyo Games, when Dentsu was in charge of public relations. The Games had not yet been commercialized, and Dentsu’s role was more a sign of its stature and political sway.

But in 1984, when the Los Angeles Olympics became the first to rely entirely on private funding, Dentsu rushed to put its corporate clients in the mix.

Dentsu took the lead in the bid process when Japan hosted its second Olympics, the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano. And when Tokyo decided to vie for the 2016 Summer Olympics, the company was the obvious choice.

Tokyo lost out to Rio de Janeiro after a Dentsu-led bid that was widely criticized for being ham-handed and exorbitantly over budget. Regardless, Dentsu came out ahead, pocketing almost 87% of the Tokyo committee’s expenditures, according to a government hearing at the time.

Concerns about the company’s 2016 performance did not prevent it from playing a significant role in the 2020 bid, said Nick Varley, a consultant who was brought on to shepherd the presentations.

The bid committee assured him that Dentsu would not be involved, he said. But when he received his contract, he was surprised to find it was an agreement with Dentsu.

On the surface, at least, Dentsu mostly provided logistical support and handled the domestic side of the campaign, Varley said.

But behind the scenes, the situation appears to have been murkier.

The French authorities have spent years investigating allegations of corruption surrounding the Tokyo 2020 bid process. Among the questions is the role that a powerful former Dentsu employee played in lobbying people with long-standing connections to the company in an effort to sway the outcome.

The scandal led to the resignation of the head of the Tokyo Olympic committee. Dentsu has said it had no involvement in the matter.

Regardless of how the Games were won, the company stood to make an enormous profit. Within a year, the Tokyo Olympic committee had named Dentsu its marketing partner, after a bidding process that competitors described as a foregone conclusion.

Dentsu was in need of a win. It has struggled to adjust to the rise of digital media. It was damaged by a massive overcharging scandal and a high-profile suicide linked to the company’s intense work culture. And, even before the coronavirus, the firm had begun posting losses.

But when the pandemic hit, Dentsu’s Olympic bet went sour. While the exact financial impact on Dentsu remains unclear, said Ebizuka, the former company executive, there is no doubt that it is “suffering.”

For now, all Dentsu can do is hope for the best as it tries to help its clients navigate the uncertain situation, Ebizuka said.

They have no choice but to send a “subtle message,” he said: “Let’s look toward the future and just get through the pandemic together.”

It’s not an official sponsor of the Olympics. It will remain invisible to the millions of viewers who begin tuning in this week. But without it, the Tokyo Games could not have happened.

It’s not an official sponsor of the Olympics. It will remain invisible to the millions of viewers who begin tuning in this week. But without it, the Tokyo Games could not have happened. The force behind the Olympic curtain is Dentsu, an advertising goliath with near mythical levels of power and influence in Japan. As a gatekeeper to the world’s third-largest economy, it has become a major figure in international sports. It played a prominent role in Tokyo’s Olympic bid, then was named the Games’ exclusive advertising partner, bringing in a record-shattering $3.6 billion from Japanese sponsors. Also read | Woman raped in Tokyo Olympic Stadium; Uzbek man arrested With its nearly complete control over the Olympic marketing bonanza, Dentsu stood to be Japan’s biggest winner of this year’s Games. But as the pandemic has played havoc with the event, a company accustomed to always coming out on top finds itself in an unfamiliar position. Its expectation of an enormous windfall has dwindled. The advertising campaigns and promotional events that sponsors usually mount in the months before the Olympics have been canceled or pared down, depriving Dentsu of what analysts say is one of the most lucrative parts of the sporting pageant. And with the Olympics about to begin, some of Dentsu’s largest clients have begun pulling back. Toyota, a top sponsor, said Monday that it would not run Olympics-themed television ads in Japan during the Games, reflecting concerns about a possible public backlash against companies underwriting the event. Also read | Why this US Paralympic Games swimmer pulled out of Tokyo 2020 For the clients that continue their Olympic advertising campaigns, Dentsu faces a serious test of its message control. Polls show that about 80% of the Japanese public opposes holding the Olympics, which were postponed by a year and will now be held amid a state of emergency in Tokyo. “What kind of message do you send right now? It’s a really difficult question, and sponsors are definitely troubled by it,” said Osamu Ebizuka, a veteran of Dentsu’s sports marketing department who is now a visiting professor of business management at J.F. Oberlin University in Tokyo. Dentsu, asked how it would shape its clients’ approach toward the Olympics, said that it was “not a sponsor,” so it was “not in a position to comment.” Even with its challenges, Dentsu remains an unparalleled force in Japan. It is by far the country’s largest marketing firm, with a grip on nearly 28% of the country’s vast advertising budget. Also read | Amid coronavirus crisis, Tokyo 2020 chief does not rule out cancellation of Olympics Dentsu started life in 1901 as a news agency before realizing it was more profitable to package its content with advertisements. In the lead-up to World War II, it was merged into a state-run news service that pumped out propaganda for Japan’s Imperial Army. Under U.S. occupation, the organization split into three parts: the ad agency Dentsu and Japan’s two largest news services, Kyodo and Jiji Press. In the years since, Dentsu has become hard-wired into nearly every major institution in Japan. In addition to its many corporate and media connections, it has served as the unofficial communications department of the governing Liberal Democratic Party over its more than 75 years in nearly continuous power. Also read | Tennis: Fearless Sabalenka ready for 'new challenge' in Tokyo Olympics The conspiratorially minded sometimes refer to the company as Japan’s CIA, a puppet master using its vast network to gather information and shape the nation’s fate. The comparison is fanciful, said Ryu Honma, an author who began writing about the company after working at its rival Hakuhodo. But the company has unquestionably made itself indispensable to Japan Inc. Dentsu is the nation’s fixer, with a reputation for getting things done, no matter how difficult. For years, it was known for a ruthless work ethic expressed in a credo called the Devil’s Ten Commandments, instructing employees to “never let go of a job, even if it kills you.” Its clients are a who’s who of corporate Japan — part of a roster, Dentsu likes to say, that includes 95 of the world’s 100 top advertisers. It recruits from the ranks of Tokyo’s top universities and is said to show a preference for the children of politicians, celebrities and titans of industry. Also read | Japan projected to improve medals tally by 50% in Tokyo Olympics: Gracenote Whereas most ad companies outside Japan avoid conflicts of interest by representing only one company in any given industry, Japanese firms are often less exclusive. Dentsu frequently works for competing firms in the same sector, one of the keys to its ubiquity. Dentsu offers virtually every kind of service related to communications. Dentsu ad executives sell commercials directed by Dentsu, starring actors represented by Dentsu, to TV stations where Dentsu manages ad sales. The company buys up entire blocks of airtime before it has sold ads to fill them. Its hold on television advertising is so tight that Japan’s competition regulator has twice issued it warnings. It exerts considerable influence on traditional media, both broadcast and print, which are loath to offend the company and its clients for fear of losing ad dollars. Also read | Tokyo Olympics: Sponsors to miss opening ceremony as more athletes catch virus The company’s ties to the Olympics date back to the 1964 Tokyo Games, when Dentsu was in charge of public relations. The Games had not yet been commercialized, and Dentsu’s role was more a sign of its stature and political sway. But in 1984, when the Los Angeles Olympics became the first to rely entirely on private funding, Dentsu rushed to put its corporate clients in the mix. Dentsu took the lead in the bid process when Japan hosted its second Olympics, the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano. And when Tokyo decided to vie for the 2016 Summer Olympics, the company was the obvious choice. Tokyo lost out to Rio de Janeiro after a Dentsu-led bid that was widely criticized for being ham-handed and exorbitantly over budget. Regardless, Dentsu came out ahead, pocketing almost 87% of the Tokyo committee’s expenditures, according to a government hearing at the time. Concerns about the company’s 2016 performance did not prevent it from playing a significant role in the 2020 bid, said Nick Varley, a consultant who was brought on to shepherd the presentations. The bid committee assured him that Dentsu would not be involved, he said. But when he received his contract, he was surprised to find it was an agreement with Dentsu. On the surface, at least, Dentsu mostly provided logistical support and handled the domestic side of the campaign, Varley said. But behind the scenes, the situation appears to have been murkier. The French authorities have spent years investigating allegations of corruption surrounding the Tokyo 2020 bid process. Among the questions is the role that a powerful former Dentsu employee played in lobbying people with long-standing connections to the company in an effort to sway the outcome. The scandal led to the resignation of the head of the Tokyo Olympic committee. Dentsu has said it had no involvement in the matter. Regardless of how the Games were won, the company stood to make an enormous profit. Within a year, the Tokyo Olympic committee had named Dentsu its marketing partner, after a bidding process that competitors described as a foregone conclusion. Dentsu was in need of a win. It has struggled to adjust to the rise of digital media. It was damaged by a massive overcharging scandal and a high-profile suicide linked to the company’s intense work culture. And, even before the coronavirus, the firm had begun posting losses. But when the pandemic hit, Dentsu’s Olympic bet went sour. While the exact financial impact on Dentsu remains unclear, said Ebizuka, the former company executive, there is no doubt that it is “suffering.” For now, all Dentsu can do is hope for the best as it tries to help its clients navigate the uncertain situation, Ebizuka said. They have no choice but to send a “subtle message,” he said: “Let’s look toward the future and just get through the pandemic together.”

The invisible hand behind the Tokyo Olympics

Mexican baseball authorities announced Monday that two players had tested positive for Covid-19 just days before they were due to leave for the&nbsp;Tokyo&nbsp;Olympics.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/para-athlete-olivia-breen-left-fuming-as-official-says-her-shorts-are-too-revealing-399103" hreflang="en">Para-athlete Olivia Breen left fuming as official says her shorts are 'too revealing'</a>

"At the beginning of the gathering of the Mexican baseball selection two asymptomatic positive cases of Covid-19 were detected," the Mexican Baseball Federation and the Mexican Baseball League said, adding that the players were Hector Velazquez and Sammy Solis.

The two pitchers, who play for the Acereros de Monclova, were placed in solitary confinement "immediately in their hotel rooms where the national team gathers."

All members of the national team were tested again Monday morning with PCR tests. The training scheduled for the evening in the Alfredo Harp Helu stadium in Mexico City was cancelled.

The Mexican baseball team, which qualified for the first time to participate in the Olympics, has kept its scheduled departure on Wednesday for&nbsp;Tokyo.

The team is in Group A, where they are slated to face the Dominican Republic on July 30 and Japan the following day.

Mexican baseball authorities announced Monday that two players had tested positive for Covid-19 just days before they were due to leave for the Tokyo Olympics. ALSO READ: Para-athlete Olivia Breen left fuming as official says her shorts are 'too revealing' "At the beginning of the gathering of the Mexican baseball selection two asymptomatic positive cases of Covid-19 were detected," the Mexican Baseball Federation and the Mexican Baseball League said, adding that the players were Hector Velazquez and Sammy Solis.

Mexican baseball authorities announced Monday that two players had tested positive for Covid-19 just days before they were due to leave for the Tokyo Olympics. ALSO READ: Para-athlete Olivia Breen left fuming as official says her shorts are 'too revealing' "At the beginning of the gathering of the Mexican baseball selection two asymptomatic positive cases of Covid-19 were detected," the Mexican Baseball Federation and the Mexican Baseball League said, adding that the players were Hector Velazquez and Sammy Solis. The two pitchers, who play for the Acereros de Monclova, were placed in solitary confinement "immediately in their hotel rooms where the national team gathers." All members of the national team were tested again Monday morning with PCR tests. The training scheduled for the evening in the Alfredo Harp Helu stadium in Mexico City was cancelled. The Mexican baseball team, which qualified for the first time to participate in the Olympics, has kept its scheduled departure on Wednesday for Tokyo. The team is in Group A, where they are slated to face the Dominican Republic on July 30 and Japan the following day.

Tokyo 2020: Two Mexico Olympic baseball players test positive for Covid-19

Athletes at the Tokyo Olympic village were surprised to find beds made out of cardboard, which they immediately dubbed as anti-sex beds. Do the organisers really want a celibate games village?

Gravitas: Anti-sex beds at Tokyo Olympics?

Major Olympic sponsors will not attend this week's opening ceremony, domestic media said on Tuesday, dealing another blow to a slimmed-down Games as more athletes tested positive for the coronavirus.

The Games, postponed last year because of the pandemic, open on Friday but will be held without spectators after Japan this month decided that participants would compete in empty venues to minimise the risk of further infections as cases in Tokyo rise.

Officials from top Olympic sponsor Panasonic Corp., as well as Fujitsu Ltd and NEC Corp. will skip the event, several local media outlets said, after Toyota Motor Corp on Monday dropped all TV ads linked to the Games.

Public concern has grown that hosting an event with tens of thousands of overseas athletes, officials and journalists could accelerate infection rates in Japan's capital and introduce COVID-19 variants that are more infectious or deadlier.

Organisers, for whom International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said cancelling the event had never been an option, have promised to keep the Games "safe and secure".

But experts see gaps in an Olympic "bubble" that mandates frequent testing and has been designed to limit participants' movements.

There have been 67 cases of COVID-19 infections in Japan among those accredited for the Games since July 1, when many athletes and officials started arriving, organisers said on Tuesday. That does not include those at local training camps.

Two members of Mexico's Olympic baseball team tested positive for COVID-19 at the team hotel before their departure for Tokyo, the country's baseball federation said on Tuesday.

The athletes, Hector Velazquez and Sammy Solis, who tested positive on July 18, have been isolated, as have all team members pending results of more tests, it said.

'UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES'

The first major test of how an Olympics can be held in the midst of a pandemic may well come on Thursday in the men's soccer tournament when Japan face a South Africa side that could struggle to field 11 players due to the coronavirus.

Bach said on Tuesday organisers could never have imagined the "unprecedented challenges" of bringing the global event to Tokyo, and praised the "heroic efforts" of medical personnel and volunteers around the world amid the pandemic.

"The IOC never abandons the athletes. Therefore, we took an unprecedented decision to postpone the Games. Today I can admit we did not know how complex this would be," he said.

Comments by Bach and other IOC officials have in the run-up to the Games sparked outrage on social media in Japan for appearing to dismiss concerns about the pandemic.

Japan's Emperor Naruhito will meet Bach on Thursday, Kyodo news agency reported. Japanese media said Naruhito, who has spoken of his memories of the 1964 Olympics that Tokyo hosted, will attend the opening ceremony on Friday.

BURST "BUBBLE"?

"It's obvious that the bubble system is kind of broken," said Kenji Shibuya, the former director of the Institute for Population Health at King's College London.&nbsp;

"My biggest concern is, of course, there will be a cluster of infections in the (athletes') village or some of the accommodation and interaction with local people," Shibuya added.

Japan has recorded more than 840,000 cases of COVID-19 and 15,055 deaths. Host city Tokyo is experiencing a fresh surge, with 1,387 cases recorded on Tuesday.

A rocky vaccination rollout has added to concerns. About one-third of Japan's population has had at least one vaccination shot and about 22% are fully vaccinated, one of the lowest rates among wealthy countries.

Days before the opening ceremony in Tokyo, 68% of respondents in an Asahi newspaper poll expressed doubt about the ability of Olympic organisers to control coronavirus infections, with 55% saying they were opposed to the Games going ahead.

A Ugandan weightlifter, Julius Ssekitoleko, who went missing from a Japan-based training camp last week leaving a note saying he wanted to stay in the country Japan, was found on Tuesday, public broadcaster NHK said. There has been no suggestion that he has contracted COVID-19.

Bach also said that World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus would be in Tokyo on Wednesday to "share his thoughts with us in a keynote speech".

Major Olympic sponsors will not attend this week's opening ceremony, domestic media said on Tuesday, dealing another blow to a slimmed-down Games as more athletes tested positive for the coronavirus.

Major Olympic sponsors will not attend this week's opening ceremony, domestic media said on Tuesday, dealing another blow to a slimmed-down Games as more athletes tested positive for the coronavirus. The Games, postponed last year because of the pandemic, open on Friday but will be held without spectators after Japan this month decided that participants would compete in empty venues to minimise the risk of further infections as cases in Tokyo rise. Officials from top Olympic sponsor Panasonic Corp., as well as Fujitsu Ltd and NEC Corp. will skip the event, several local media outlets said, after Toyota Motor Corp on Monday dropped all TV ads linked to the Games. Public concern has grown that hosting an event with tens of thousands of overseas athletes, officials and journalists could accelerate infection rates in Japan's capital and introduce COVID-19 variants that are more infectious or deadlier. Organisers, for whom International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said cancelling the event had never been an option, have promised to keep the Games "safe and secure". But experts see gaps in an Olympic "bubble" that mandates frequent testing and has been designed to limit participants' movements. There have been 67 cases of COVID-19 infections in Japan among those accredited for the Games since July 1, when many athletes and officials started arriving, organisers said on Tuesday. That does not include those at local training camps. Two members of Mexico's Olympic baseball team tested positive for COVID-19 at the team hotel before their departure for Tokyo, the country's baseball federation said on Tuesday. The athletes, Hector Velazquez and Sammy Solis, who tested positive on July 18, have been isolated, as have all team members pending results of more tests, it said. 'UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES' The first major test of how an Olympics can be held in the midst of a pandemic may well come on Thursday in the men's soccer tournament when Japan face a South Africa side that could struggle to field 11 players due to the coronavirus. Bach said on Tuesday organisers could never have imagined the "unprecedented challenges" of bringing the global event to Tokyo, and praised the "heroic efforts" of medical personnel and volunteers around the world amid the pandemic. "The IOC never abandons the athletes. Therefore, we took an unprecedented decision to postpone the Games. Today I can admit we did not know how complex this would be," he said. Comments by Bach and other IOC officials have in the run-up to the Games sparked outrage on social media in Japan for appearing to dismiss concerns about the pandemic. Japan's Emperor Naruhito will meet Bach on Thursday, Kyodo news agency reported. Japanese media said Naruhito, who has spoken of his memories of the 1964 Olympics that Tokyo hosted, will attend the opening ceremony on Friday. BURST "BUBBLE"? "It's obvious that the bubble system is kind of broken," said Kenji Shibuya, the former director of the Institute for Population Health at King's College London. "My biggest concern is, of course, there will be a cluster of infections in the (athletes') village or some of the accommodation and interaction with local people," Shibuya added. Japan has recorded more than 840,000 cases of COVID-19 and 15,055 deaths. Host city Tokyo is experiencing a fresh surge, with 1,387 cases recorded on Tuesday. A rocky vaccination rollout has added to concerns. About one-third of Japan's population has had at least one vaccination shot and about 22% are fully vaccinated, one of the lowest rates among wealthy countries. Days before the opening ceremony in Tokyo, 68% of respondents in an Asahi newspaper poll expressed doubt about the ability of Olympic organisers to control coronavirus infections, with 55% saying they were opposed to the Games going ahead. A Ugandan weightlifter, Julius Ssekitoleko, who went missing from a Japan-based training camp last week leaving a note saying he wanted to stay in the country Japan, was found on Tuesday, public broadcaster NHK said. There has been no suggestion that he has contracted COVID-19. Bach also said that World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus would be in Tokyo on Wednesday to "share his thoughts with us in a keynote speech".

Tokyo Olympics: Sponsors to miss opening ceremony as more athletes catch virus

An alternate on the United States women's gymnastics team has tested positive for COVID-19 in an Olympic training camp in Inzai city, taking the total number of cases involving the games to nearly 60.

Tokyo Olympics: US gymnast tested positive at training camp in Inzai city

Host-nation Japan is projected to improve its medals haul at the Tokyo Olympics by 50% from the Rio de Janeiro Games, according to data analysts Gracenote.

Japan won a record-breaking 41 medals in Rio in 2016 and could increase that to 60, buoyed by gains from new and returning disciplines, including skateboarding, sport climbing and baseball, Gracenote said on Tuesday.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-2020-two-mexico-olympic-baseball-players-test-positive-for-covid-19-399160" hreflang="en">Tokyo 2020: Two Mexico Olympic baseball players test positive for Covid-19</a>

"Due to the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic, there is potential for the Tokyo Summer Games to be more unpredictable than normal," Gracenote said, releasing its final 'Virtual Medal Table' before the start of the Games on Friday.

The United States was picked to top the table but its expected haul was cut to 96, compared to the 121 won five years ago.

Asian powerhouse China's medal count was put at 66 but Gracenote said it might be a conservative projection due to a lack of data on the country's athletes.

"Nearly 80% of the Chinese athletes ranked in the Virtual Medal Table top-8s have no results since the pandemic began and the forecast total may be underrating the country's actual performance," it said.

Russian athletes, who will be competing in Tokyo as representatives of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) after the country was stripped of its flag and anthem for doping offences, were projected to come second in the table with 68 medals.

Britain was placed fifth with 52 medals, 15 fewer than it won in Rio.

Host-nation Japan is projected to improve its medals haul at the Tokyo Olympics by 50% from the Rio de Janeiro Games, according to data analysts Gracenote. Japan won a record-breaking 41 medals in Rio in 2016 and could increase that to 60, buoyed by gains from new and returning disciplines, including skateboarding, sport climbing and baseball, Gracenote said on Tuesday.

Host-nation Japan is projected to improve its medals haul at the Tokyo Olympics by 50% from the Rio de Janeiro Games, according to data analysts Gracenote. Japan won a record-breaking 41 medals in Rio in 2016 and could increase that to 60, buoyed by gains from new and returning disciplines, including skateboarding, sport climbing and baseball, Gracenote said on Tuesday. ALSO READ: Tokyo 2020: Two Mexico Olympic baseball players test positive for Covid-19 "Due to the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic, there is potential for the Tokyo Summer Games to be more unpredictable than normal," Gracenote said, releasing its final 'Virtual Medal Table' before the start of the Games on Friday. The United States was picked to top the table but its expected haul was cut to 96, compared to the 121 won five years ago. Asian powerhouse China's medal count was put at 66 but Gracenote said it might be a conservative projection due to a lack of data on the country's athletes. "Nearly 80% of the Chinese athletes ranked in the Virtual Medal Table top-8s have no results since the pandemic began and the forecast total may be underrating the country's actual performance," it said. Russian athletes, who will be competing in Tokyo as representatives of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) after the country was stripped of its flag and anthem for doping offences, were projected to come second in the table with 68 medals. Britain was placed fifth with 52 medals, 15 fewer than it won in Rio.

Japan projected to improve medals tally by 50% in Tokyo Olympics: Gracenote

American teen sensation Coco Gauff has entered the elite list of tennis stars, who have pulled out of the Tokyo Olympics. The 17-year-old said that she had tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-roger-federer-to-serena-williams-tennis-aces-who-are-set-to-miss-tokyo-olympics-398188" hreflang="en">From Roger Federer to Serena Williams: Tennis aces who are set to miss Tokyo Olympics</a>

"I'm disappointed to share the news that I have tested positive for COVID and won't be able to play in the Olympic Games in Tokyo," world number 25 Gauff, who was going to compete in both the singles and doubles competitions, said on Twitter.

"It has always been a dream of mine to represent the USA at the Olympics, and I hope there will be many more chances for me to make this come true in the future."

Gauff was set to become the youngest Olympic tennis player since 2000 to play in the coveted tournament, however, she will pull out of it due to the infection.&nbsp;

Several stars in the world of tennis like Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Simona Halep, Dominic Thiem, Stan Wawrinka and Nick Kyrgios have pulled out of the Tokyo Olympics and have cited different reasons.&nbsp;

The highly-anticipated Tokyo Games will kick off on Friday after the Summer Games were pushed by year due to the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Inputs from Agency)

American teen sensation Coco Gauff has entered the elite list of tennis stars, who have pulled out of the Tokyo Olympics. The 17-year-old said that she had tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday.

American teen sensation Coco Gauff has entered the elite list of tennis stars, who have pulled out of the Tokyo Olympics. The 17-year-old said that she had tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday. ALSO READ: From Roger Federer to Serena Williams: Tennis aces who are set to miss Tokyo Olympics "I'm disappointed to share the news that I have tested positive for COVID and won't be able to play in the Olympic Games in Tokyo," world number 25 Gauff, who was going to compete in both the singles and doubles competitions, said on Twitter. "It has always been a dream of mine to represent the USA at the Olympics, and I hope there will be many more chances for me to make this come true in the future." Gauff was set to become the youngest Olympic tennis player since 2000 to play in the coveted tournament, however, she will pull out of it due to the infection. Several stars in the world of tennis like Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Simona Halep, Dominic Thiem, Stan Wawrinka and Nick Kyrgios have pulled out of the Tokyo Olympics and have cited different reasons. The highly-anticipated Tokyo Games will kick off on Friday after the Summer Games were pushed by year due to the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Inputs from Agency)

Tennis: American ace Coco Gauff tests positive for COVID-19, pulls out of Tokyo Olympics

The new 'anti-sex' beds have become a talking point in the Tokyo Olympics after American distance runner Paul Chelimo tweeted a series of photos and said that the cardboard beds were "aimed at avoiding intimacy among athletes".

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/anti-sex-beds-in-tokyo-olympics-american-sprinter-shares-images-398856" hreflang="en">'Anti-sex' beds in Tokyo Olympics? American sprinter shares images</a>

"Beds will (only) be able to withstand the weight of a single person to avoid situations beyond sports," he tweeted.

However, the organisers have reassured that the beds in the Olympics Village are "sturdy". Their statement came after an Irish gymnast Rhys McClenaghan filmed himself jumping repeatedly on a bed to prove the point, after the report in the New York Post claimed the beds were deliberately flimsy to promote social distancing.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
“Anti-sex” beds at the Olympics <a href="https://t.co/2jnFm6mKcB">pic.twitter.com/2jnFm6mKcB</a>
— Rhys Mcclenaghan (@McClenaghanRhys) <a href="https://twitter.com/McClenaghanRhys/status/1416567768938291203?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"The beds are meant to be anti-sex. They're made out of cardboard, yes, but apparently they're meant to break with sudden movements. It's fake -- fake news!" McClenaghan said in the video posted on Twitter.

The official Olympics Twitter account thanked McClenaghan for "debunking the myth", adding "the sustainable beds are sturdy!"

The beds are manufactured by Airweave, in January, they revealed that the bed can withstand upto 200 kilos and have gone through rigorous stress tests.&nbsp;

However, the organisers of the Tokyo Olympics are promoting the idea of maintaining social distancing due to the surge in COVID-19 cases in Japan. They have decided to hand out condoms to athletes only once they leave the village.

The organisers of Tokyo 2020 also made a deal with four condom companies in order to hand out 160,000 condoms for the athletes in the village.&nbsp;

“The distribution of condoms is not for use at the athletes’ village, but to have athletes take them back to their home countries to raise awareness (of HIV and AIDS),” organisers had told Reuters.&nbsp;

The new 'anti-sex' beds have become a talking point in the Tokyo Olympics after American distance runner Paul Chelimo tweeted a series of photos and said that the cardboard beds were "aimed at avoiding intimacy among athletes".

The new 'anti-sex' beds have become a talking point in the Tokyo Olympics after American distance runner Paul Chelimo tweeted a series of photos and said that the cardboard beds were "aimed at avoiding intimacy among athletes". ALSO READ: 'Anti-sex' beds in Tokyo Olympics? American sprinter shares images "Beds will (only) be able to withstand the weight of a single person to avoid situations beyond sports," he tweeted. However, the organisers have reassured that the beds in the Olympics Village are "sturdy". Their statement came after an Irish gymnast Rhys McClenaghan filmed himself jumping repeatedly on a bed to prove the point, after the report in the New York Post claimed the beds were deliberately flimsy to promote social distancing. “Anti-sex” beds at the Olympics pic.twitter.com/2jnFm6mKcB — Rhys Mcclenaghan (@McClenaghanRhys) July 18, 2021 × "The beds are meant to be anti-sex. They're made out of cardboard, yes, but apparently they're meant to break with sudden movements. It's fake -- fake news!" McClenaghan said in the video posted on Twitter. The official Olympics Twitter account thanked McClenaghan for "debunking the myth", adding "the sustainable beds are sturdy!" The beds are manufactured by Airweave, in January, they revealed that the bed can withstand upto 200 kilos and have gone through rigorous stress tests. However, the organisers of the Tokyo Olympics are promoting the idea of maintaining social distancing due to the surge in COVID-19 cases in Japan. They have decided to hand out condoms to athletes only once they leave the village. The organisers of Tokyo 2020 also made a deal with four condom companies in order to hand out 160,000 condoms for the athletes in the village. “The distribution of condoms is not for use at the athletes’ village, but to have athletes take them back to their home countries to raise awareness (of HIV and AIDS),” organisers had told Reuters.

Tokyo Olympics organisers assure that cardboard beds are 'sturdy' after 'anti-sex' reports

Team India have entered the Tokyo Olympics with a record-high 119 athletes participating across numerous sports as they beat their previous record (117) that was created during Rio 2016.&nbsp;

Out of 119, 67 are male and 52 are female participants with an average age of 26.99 years. The Indian contingent&nbsp;is yet to touch double figures in the Olympics, with their previous best being 6 medals. The Summer Games will kick off on July 23rd and will go on till August 8. Top Athletes across the world will compete for 339 medal events in Tokyo.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/anti-sex-beds-in-tokyo-olympics-american-sprinter-shares-images-398856" hreflang="en">'Anti-sex' beds in Tokyo Olympics? American sprinter shares images</a>

<h2>ARCHERY:</h2>

Friday, July 23-Men’s, Women’s Individual Qualification Rounds- From 5:30 AM

Saturday, July 24- Mixed Team Eliminations, Medal Matches — Atanu Das, Deepika Kumari- From 6 AM

Monday, July 26- Men’s Team Eliminations, Medal Matches — Atanu Das, Pravin Jadhav, Tarundeep Rai- From 6 AM

Tuesday, July 27 to Friday, July 30- Men’s and Women’s Individual Eliminations, Medal Matches- To Be Announced (TBA)

<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

<h2>ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS:</h2>

Sunday, July 25- Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Qualification — Pranati Nayak- From 6:30 AM

Thursday, July 29 to Tuesday, August 3: Women’s Artistic Gymnastics All-Round and Events Final — Pranati Nayak- TBA

&nbsp;

<h2>ATHLETICS:</h2>

Friday, July 30- Men’s 3000m Steeplechase Heats — Avinash Sable- From 5:30 AM

Friday, July 30- Men’s 400m Hurdles Round 1 — MP Jabir- From 7:25 AM

Friday, July 30- Women’s 100m Round 1 — Dutee Chand- From 8:10 AM

Friday, July 30- Mixed 4x400m Relay Round 1 — Alex Antony, Sarthak Bhambri, Revathi Veeramani, Subha Venkatesan- From 4:30 PM

Saturday, July 31- Women’s Discus Throw Qualification — Seema Punia, Kamalpreet Kaur- From 6 AM

Saturday, July 31- Men’s Long Jump Qualification — M Sreeshankar- From 3:40 PM

Saturday, July 31- Mixed 4x400m Relay Final — Alex Antony, Sarthak Bhambri, Revathi Veeramani, Subha Venkatesan (if qualify)- From 6:05 PM

Saturday, July 31- Women’s 100m Semi-Final and Final — Dutee Chand (if qualifies)- From 6:20 PM

Monday, August 2- Men’s Long Jump Final — M Sreeshankar (if qualifies)- From 7:20 AM

Monday, August 2- Women’s 200m Round 1 — Dutee Chand- From 7:30 AM

Monday, August 2- Women’s Discus Throw Final — Seema Punia, Kamalpreet Kaur- From 5:30 PM

Monday, August 3- Men’s 3000m Steeplechase Final — Avinash Sable (if qualifies)- From 5:45 PM

Tuesday, August 3- Women’s Javelin Throw Qualification — Annu Rani, from 5:50 AM

Tuesday, August 3- Men’s 400m Hurdles Final — MP Jabir (if qualifies)- From 8:50 AM

Tuesday, August 3- Men’s Shot Put Qualification — Tajinder Singh Toor- From 3:45 PM

Tuesday, August 3- Women’s 200m Final — Dutee Chand (if qualifies)- From 6:20 PM

Wednesday, August 4- Men’s Javelin Throw Qualification — Neeraj Chopra, Shivpal Singh- From 5:35 AM

Wednesday, August 4- Men’s 20km Race Walk Final — KT Irfan, Sandeep Kumar, Rahul- From 1 PM

Friday, August 6- Men’s 50km Race Walk Final —Gurpreet Singh- From 2 AM

Friday, August 6- Women’s 20km Race Walk Final — Bhawna Jat, Priyanka- From 1 PM

Friday, August 6- Men’s 4x400m Relay Round 1 — Amoj Jacob, P Naganathan, Arokia Rajiv, Noah Nirmal Tom, Muhammed Anas Yahiya- From 4:55 PM

Friday, August 6- Women’s Javelin Throw Final — Annu Rani (if qualifies)- From 5:20 PM

Saturday, August 7- Men’s Javelin Throw Final — Neeraj Chopra, Shivpal Singh (if qualifies)- From 4:30 PM

Saturday, August 7- Men’s 4×400 m Relay Final — Amoj Jacob, P Naganathan, Arokia Rajiv, Noah Nirmal Tom, Muhammed Anas Yahiya (if qualify)- From 6:20 PM

<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

<h2>BADMINTON:</h2>

Saturday, July 24- Men’s Doubles Group Stage — Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty vs Lee Yang/Wang Chi-Lin- From 8:50 AM

Saturday, July 24- Men’s Singles Group Stage — Sai Praneeth vs Zilberman Misha- From 9:30 AM

Sunday, July 25- Women’s Singles Group Stage — PV Sindhu vs Polikarpova Ksenia- From 6:40 AM

Monday, July 26 to Thursday, July 29- All events (Group Stage Matches) — PV Sindhu, Sai Praneeth, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty- From 5:30 AM

Monday, July 26 to Thursday, July 29- Men’s Doubles Quarter-Finals — Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty (if qualify)- From 5:30 AM

Friday, July 30- Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles Round of 16 — Sai Praneeth, PV Sindhu (if qualify)- From 5:30 AM

Saturday, July 31- Men’s Doubles Semi-Finals — Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty (if qualify)- From 5:30 AM

Saturday, July 31- Women’s Singles Quarter-Finals — PV Sindhu (if qualifies)- From 2:30 AM

Sunday, August 1- Men’s Singles Quarter-Finals — Sai Praneeth (if qualifies)- From 9:30 AM

Sunday, August 1- Men’s Doubles Bronze Medal Match — Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty (if qualify)- From 5 PM

Monday, August 2- Men’s Singles Semi-Final, Women’s Singles Final, Men’s Doubles Gold Medal Matches — PV Sindhu, Sai Praneeth, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty (if qualify)- From9:30 AM

Monday, August 2- Men’s Singles Finals — Sai Praneeth (if qualifies)- From 5:30 PM

<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

<h2>BOXING:</h2>

Friday, July 23- Women’s Welterweight Round of 32 — Lovlina Borgohain- From 7:30 AM

Friday, July 23- Men’s Welterweight Round of 32 — Vikas Krishan- From 7:30 am

Friday, July 23- Men’s Super Heavyweight Round of 32 — Satish Kumar- From 1:30 PM

Sunday, July 25- Women’s Flyweight Round of 32 — Mary Kom- From 7:30 AM

Sunday, July 25- Women’s Middleweight Round of 32 — Pooja Rani- From 7:30 AM

Sunday, July 25- Men’s Lightweight Round of 32 — Manish Kaushik- From 7:30 AM

Monday, July 26- Men’s Flyweight Round of 32 — Amit Panghal- From 7:30 AM

Monday, July 26- Men’s Middleweight Round of 32 — Ashish Kumar- From 7:30 AM

Tuesday, July 27- Women’s Lightweight Round of 32 — Simranjit Kaur- From 7:30 AM

Wednesday, July 28 to Sunday, August 8: All Categories (Round of 16, Final Rounds, and Medal Matches) — if boxers qualify- TBA

<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

<h2>EQUESTRIAN:</h2>

July 30: Eventing Individual Qualifier (Dressage Individual Session 1 &amp; 2) — Fouaad Mirza, from 5 AM

<h3>&nbsp;</h3>

<h3>FENCING:</h3>

Monday, July 26- Women’s Sabre Individual Table of 64 — CA Bhavani Devi- From 5:30 AM

Monday, July 26- Women’s Sabre Individual Subsequent Rounds and Medal Matches — CA Bhavani Devi (if qualifies)- From 6:25 AM

<h2> 
GOLF:</h2>

Thursday, July 29- Men’s Individual Strokeplay Round 1 — Anirban Lahiri, Udayan Mane- From 4 AM

Friday, July 30- Men’s Individual Strokeplay Round 2 — Anirban Lahiri, Udayan Mane- From 4 AM

Saturday, July 31- Men’s Individual Strokeplay Round 3 — Anirban Lahiri, Udayan Mane- From 4 AM

Sunday, August 1- Men’s Individual Strokeplay Medal Round — Anirban Lahiri, Udayan Mane- From 4 AM

Wednesday, August 4- Women’s Individual Strokeplay Round 1 — Aditi Ashok- From 4 AM

Thursday, August 5- Women’s Individual Strokeplay Round 2 — Aditi Ashok- From 4 AM

Friday, August 6- Women’s Individual Strokeplay Round 3 — Aditi Ashok- From 4 AM

Saturday, August 7- Women’s Individual Strokeplay Medal Round — Aditi Ashok- From 4 AM

<h2> 
HOCKEY:</h2>

Saturday, July 24- Men’s Pool A — India vs New Zealand- From 6:30 AM

Saturday, July 24- Women’s Pool A — India vs Netherlands- From 4:15 PM

July 25: Men’s Pool A — India vs Australia- From 3 PM

July 26: Women’s Pool A — India vs Germany- From 5:45 PM

July 27: Men’s Pool A — India vs Spain- From 6:30 AM

July 28: Women’s Pool A — India vs Great Britain- From 6:30 AM

July 29: Men’s Pool A — India vs Argentina- From 6 AM

July 30: Women’s Pool A — India vs Ireland- From 8:15 AM

July 30: Men’s Pool A — India vs Japan- From 3 PM

July 31: Women’s Pool A — India vs South Africa- From 8:45 AM

August 1: Men’s Quarter-Final — if qualify- From 6 AM

August 2: Women’s Quarter-Final — if qualify- From 6 AM

August 3: Men’s Semi-Final — if qualify- From 7 AM

August 4: Women’s Semi-Final — if qualify- From 7 AM

August 5: Men’s Medal Matches — if qualify- From7 AM and 3:30 PM

August 6: Women’s Medal Matches — if qualify- From 7 AM and 3:30 PM

<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

<h2>JUDO:</h2>

Saturday, July 24- Women’s 48kg Round of 32, Successive Rounds — Sushila Devi Likmabam- From 7:30 AM

July 25: Women’s 48kg Medal Matches — Sushila Devi Likmabam (if qualifies)-TBA

<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

<h2>SHOOTING:</h2>

Saturday, July 24- Women’s 10m Air Rifle Qualification — Elavenil Valarivan, Apurvi Chandela- From 5 AM

Saturday, July 24- Men’s 10m Air Pistol Qualification — Saurabh Chaudhary, Abhishek Verma- From 9:30 AM

Saturday, July 24- Women’s 10m Air Rifle Final — Elavenil Valarivan, Apurvi Chandela (if qualify)- From 10:15 AM

Saturday, July 24- Men’s 10m Air Pistol Final — Saurabh Chaudhary, Abhishek Verma (if qualify)- From 12 PM

Sunday, July 25- Women’s 10m Air Pistol Qualification — Manu Bhaker, Yashaswini Singh Deswal- From 5:30 AM

Sunday, July 25- Skeet Men’s Qualification Day 1 — Angad Vir Singh Bajwa, Mairaj Ahmed Khan- From 6 AM

Sunday, July 25- Women’s 10m Air Pistol Final — Manu Bhaker, Yashaswini Singh Deswal (if qualify)- From 7:45 AM

Sunday, July 25- Men’s 10m Air Rifle Qualification — Deepak Kumar, Divyansh Singh Panwar- From 9:30 AM

Sunday, July 25- Men’s 10m Air Rifle Final — Deepak Kumar, Divyansh Singh Panwar (if qualify)- From 12 PM

Sunday, July 25- Skeet Men’s Qualification Day 2 — Angad Vir Singh Bajwa, Mairaj Ahmed Khan- From 6:30 AM

Sunday, July 25- Skeet Men’s Final — Angad Vir Singh Bajwa, Mairaj Ahmed Khan- From 12:10 PM

Monday, July 26- 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team Qualification — Saurabh Chaudhary/Manu Bhaker, Abhishek Verma/Yashaswini Singh Deswal- From 5:30 AM

Monday, July 26-10m Air Pistol Mixed Team Bronze and Gold Medal Matches — Saurabh Chaudhary/Manu Bhaker, Abhishek Verma/Yashaswini Singh Deswal- From 7:30 AM

Monday, July 26- 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team Qualification — Divyansh Singh Panwar/Elavenil Valarivan, Deepak Kumar/Anjum Moudgil- From 9:45 AM

Monday, July 26- 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team Bronze and Gold Medal Matches — Divyansh Singh Panwar/Elavenil Valarivan, Deepak Kumar/Anjum Moudgil (if qualify)- From 11:45 AM

Thursday, July 29- Women’s 25m Pistol Qualification Precision — Manu Bhaker, Rahi Sarnobat- From 5:30 AM

Friday, July 30- Women’s 25m Pistol Qualification Rapid — Manu Bhaker, Rahi Sarnoba- From 5:30 AM

Friday, July 30- Women’s 25m Pistol Final — Manu Bhaker, Rahi Sarnobat (if qualify)- From 10:20 AM

Saturday, July 31- Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Position Qualification — Anjum Moudgil, Tejaswini Sawant- From 8:30 AM

Saturday, July 31- Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Position Final — Anjum Moudgil, Tejaswini Sawant (if qualify)- From 1:30 PM

Monday, August 2- Men’s 50m Rifle 3 Position Qualification — Sanjeev Rajput, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar- From7 AM

Monday, August 2- Men’s 50m Rifle 3 Position Final — Sanjeev Rajput, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar (if qualify)- From 1:10 PM

<h2> 
SWIMMING:</h2>

Sunday, July 25- Men’s 100m Backstroke Heats — Srihari Nataraj- From 3:30 PM

Sunday, July 25- Women’s 100m Backstroke Heats — Maana Patel- From 3:30 PM

Sunday, July 25- Men’s 200m Freestyle Heats — Sajan Prakash- From 4:10 PM

Monday, July 26- Men’s 200m Butterfly Heats — Sajan Prakash- From 3:30 PM

Thursday, July 29- Men’s 100m Butterfly Heats — Sajan Prakash- From 4:10 PM

<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

<h2>TABLE TENNIS:</h2>

Saturday, July 24 to Tuesday, July 27- Men’s and Women’s Singles Round 1, 2 and 3 — G Sathiyan, Sharath Kamal, Manika Batra, Sutirtha Mukherjee- From 5:30 AM

Saturday, July 24- Mixed Doubles Round of 16 — Sharath Kamal/Manika Batra- From 7:45 AM

Sunday, July 25- Mixed Doubles Quarter-Final and Semi-Final — Sharath Kamal/Manika Batra- From 6:30 AM- From

Monday, July 26- Mixed Doubles Medal Matches — Sharath Kamal/Manika Batra- From 5:30 PM

Thursday, July 29- Women’s Singles Medal Matches — Manika Batra, Sutirtha Mukherjee (if qualify)- From 5:30 PM

Friday, July 30- Men’s Singles Medal Matches — G Sathiyan, Sharath Kamal (if qualify)- From 5:30 PM

&nbsp;

<h2>TENNIS:</h2>

Saturday, July 24 to Sunday, August 1: Women’s Doubles — Sania Mirza, Ankita Raina- TBA

Saturday, July 24 to Sunday, August 1: Men's Singles- Sumit Nagal- TBA

<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

<h2>WEIGHTLIFTING:</h2>

Saturday, July 24- Women’s 49kg Group B — Mirabai Chanu- From 6:20 AM

Saturday, July 24- Women’s 49kg Medal Round — Mirabai Chanu (if qualify)- From 10:20 AM

<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

<h2>WRESTLING:</h2>

Tuesday, August 3- Women’s Freestyle 62kg Round of 16 and Quarter-Finals — Sonam Malik- From 8 AM

Tuesday, August 3- Women’s Freestyle 62kg Semi-Final — Sonam Malik (if qualifies)- Later in the day

Wednesday, August 4- Women’s Freestyle 62kg Repechages — Sonam Malik (if qualifies)- From 7:30 AM

Wednesday, August 4- Women’s Freestyle 62kg Medal Matches — Sonam Malik (if qualifies)- Later in the day

Wednesday, August 4- Women’s Freestyle 57kg Round of 16 and Quater-Finals — Anshu Malik- From 8 AM

Wednesday, August 4- Women’s Freestyle 57kg Semi-Finals — Anshu Malik (if qualifies)- Later in the day

Wednesday, August 4- Men’s Freestyle 57kg Round of 16 and Quarter-Finals — Ravi Kumar Dahiya- From 8 AM

Wednesday, August 4- Men’s Freestyle 57kg Semi-Finals — Ravi Kumar Dahiya (if qualifies)- Later in the day

Wednesday, August 4- Men’s Freestyle 86kg Round of 16 and Quarter-Finals — Deepak Punia- From 8 AM

Wednesday, August 4- Men’s Freestyle 86kg Semi-Finals — Deepak Punia (if qualifies)- Later in the day

Thursday, August 5- Women’s Freestyle 57kg Final, Men’s Freestyle 57kg and Men’s Freestyle 86kg Repechages and Medal Matches — Anshu Malik, Ravi Kumar Dahiya, Deepak Punia- From 7:30 AM

Thursday, August 5- Women’s Freestyle 53kg Round of 16 and Quarter-Finals — Vinesh Phogat- From 8 AM

Thursday, August 5- Women’s Freestyle 53kg Semi-Finals — Vinesh Phogat (if qualifies)- Later in the day

Thursday, August 6- Women’s Freestyle 53kg Repechages — Vinesh Phogat (if qualifies)- From 7:30 AM

Friday, August 6- Women’s Freestyle 53kg Medal Matches — Vinesh Phogat (if qualifies)- Later in the day

Friday, August 6- Men’s Freestyle 65kg Round of 16 and Quarter-Finals — Bajrang Punia- From 8 AM

Friday, August 6- Men’s Freestyle 65kg Semi-Finals — Bajrang Punia (if qualifies)- Later in the day

Friday, August 6- Women’s Freestyle 50kg Round of 16 and Quarter-Finals — Seema Bisla- From 8 AM

Friday, August 6- Women’s Freestyle 50kg Semi-Final — Seema Bisla (if qualifies)- Later in the day

Saturday, August 7- Men’s Freestyle 65kg Repechage and Medal Matches — Bajrang Punia (if qualifies)- From 7:30 AM and later in the day

Saturday, August 7- Women’s Freestyle 50kg Repechage and Medal Matches — Seema Bisla (if qualifies)- From 7:30 AM and Later in the day

Team India have entered the Tokyo Olympics with a record-high 119 athletes participating across numerous sports as they beat their previous record (117) that was created during Rio 2016.

Team India have entered the Tokyo Olympics with a record-high 119 athletes participating across numerous sports as they beat their previous record (117) that was created during Rio 2016. Out of 119, 67 are male and 52 are female participants with an average age of 26.99 years. The Indian contingent is yet to touch double figures in the Olympics, with their previous best being 6 medals. The Summer Games will kick off on July 23rd and will go on till August 8. Top Athletes across the world will compete for 339 medal events in Tokyo. ALSO READ: 'Anti-sex' beds in Tokyo Olympics? American sprinter shares images ARCHERY: Friday, July 23-Men’s, Women’s Individual Qualification Rounds- From 5:30 AM Saturday, July 24- Mixed Team Eliminations, Medal Matches — Atanu Das, Deepika Kumari- From 6 AM Monday, July 26- Men’s Team Eliminations, Medal Matches — Atanu Das, Pravin Jadhav, Tarundeep Rai- From 6 AM Tuesday, July 27 to Friday, July 30- Men’s and Women’s Individual Eliminations, Medal Matches- To Be Announced (TBA) ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS: Sunday, July 25- Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Qualification — Pranati Nayak- From 6:30 AM Thursday, July 29 to Tuesday, August 3: Women’s Artistic Gymnastics All-Round and Events Final — Pranati Nayak- TBA ATHLETICS: Friday, July 30- Men’s 3000m Steeplechase Heats — Avinash Sable- From 5:30 AM Friday, July 30- Men’s 400m Hurdles Round 1 — MP Jabir- From 7:25 AM Friday, July 30- Women’s 100m Round 1 — Dutee Chand- From 8:10 AM Friday, July 30- Mixed 4x400m Relay Round 1 — Alex Antony, Sarthak Bhambri, Revathi Veeramani, Subha Venkatesan- From 4:30 PM Saturday, July 31- Women’s Discus Throw Qualification — Seema Punia, Kamalpreet Kaur- From 6 AM Saturday, July 31- Men’s Long Jump Qualification — M Sreeshankar- From 3:40 PM Saturday, July 31- Mixed 4x400m Relay Final — Alex Antony, Sarthak Bhambri, Revathi Veeramani, Subha Venkatesan (if qualify)- From 6:05 PM Saturday, July 31- Women’s 100m Semi-Final and Final — Dutee Chand (if qualifies)- From 6:20 PM Monday, August 2- Men’s Long Jump Final — M Sreeshankar (if qualifies)- From 7:20 AM Monday, August 2- Women’s 200m Round 1 — Dutee Chand- From 7:30 AM Monday, August 2- Women’s Discus Throw Final — Seema Punia, Kamalpreet Kaur- From 5:30 PM Monday, August 3- Men’s 3000m Steeplechase Final — Avinash Sable (if qualifies)- From 5:45 PM Tuesday, August 3- Women’s Javelin Throw Qualification — Annu Rani, from 5:50 AM Tuesday, August 3- Men’s 400m Hurdles Final — MP Jabir (if qualifies)- From 8:50 AM Tuesday, August 3- Men’s Shot Put Qualification — Tajinder Singh Toor- From 3:45 PM Tuesday, August 3- Women’s 200m Final — Dutee Chand (if qualifies)- From 6:20 PM Wednesday, August 4- Men’s Javelin Throw Qualification — Neeraj Chopra, Shivpal Singh- From 5:35 AM Wednesday, August 4- Men’s 20km Race Walk Final — KT Irfan, Sandeep Kumar, Rahul- From 1 PM Friday, August 6- Men’s 50km Race Walk Final —Gurpreet Singh- From 2 AM Friday, August 6- Women’s 20km Race Walk Final — Bhawna Jat, Priyanka- From 1 PM Friday, August 6- Men’s 4x400m Relay Round 1 — Amoj Jacob, P Naganathan, Arokia Rajiv, Noah Nirmal Tom, Muhammed Anas Yahiya- From 4:55 PM Friday, August 6- Women’s Javelin Throw Final — Annu Rani (if qualifies)- From 5:20 PM Saturday, August 7- Men’s Javelin Throw Final — Neeraj Chopra, Shivpal Singh (if qualifies)- From 4:30 PM Saturday, August 7- Men’s 4×400 m Relay Final — Amoj Jacob, P Naganathan, Arokia Rajiv, Noah Nirmal Tom, Muhammed Anas Yahiya (if qualify)- From 6:20 PM BADMINTON: Saturday, July 24- Men’s Doubles Group Stage — Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty vs Lee Yang/Wang Chi-Lin- From 8:50 AM Saturday, July 24- Men’s Singles Group Stage — Sai Praneeth vs Zilberman Misha- From 9:30 AM Sunday, July 25- Women’s Singles Group Stage — PV Sindhu vs Polikarpova Ksenia- From 6:40 AM Monday, July 26 to Thursday, July 29- All events (Group Stage Matches) — PV Sindhu, Sai Praneeth, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty- From 5:30 AM Monday, July 26 to Thursday, July 29- Men’s Doubles Quarter-Finals — Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty (if qualify)- From 5:30 AM Friday, July 30- Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles Round of 16 — Sai Praneeth, PV Sindhu (if qualify)- From 5:30 AM Saturday, July 31- Men’s Doubles Semi-Finals — Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty (if qualify)- From 5:30 AM Saturday, July 31- Women’s Singles Quarter-Finals — PV Sindhu (if qualifies)- From 2:30 AM Sunday, August 1- Men’s Singles Quarter-Finals — Sai Praneeth (if qualifies)- From 9:30 AM Sunday, August 1- Men’s Doubles Bronze Medal Match — Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty (if qualify)- From 5 PM Monday, August 2- Men’s Singles Semi-Final, Women’s Singles Final, Men’s Doubles Gold Medal Matches — PV Sindhu, Sai Praneeth, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty (if qualify)- From9:30 AM Monday, August 2- Men’s Singles Finals — Sai Praneeth (if qualifies)- From 5:30 PM BOXING: Friday, July 23- Women’s Welterweight Round of 32 — Lovlina Borgohain- From 7:30 AM Friday, July 23- Men’s Welterweight Round of 32 — Vikas Krishan- From 7:30 am Friday, July 23- Men’s Super Heavyweight Round of 32 — Satish Kumar- From 1:30 PM Sunday, July 25- Women’s Flyweight Round of 32 — Mary Kom- From 7:30 AM Sunday, July 25- Women’s Middleweight Round of 32 — Pooja Rani- From 7:30 AM Sunday, July 25- Men’s Lightweight Round of 32 — Manish Kaushik- From 7:30 AM Monday, July 26- Men’s Flyweight Round of 32 — Amit Panghal- From 7:30 AM Monday, July 26- Men’s Middleweight Round of 32 — Ashish Kumar- From 7:30 AM Tuesday, July 27- Women’s Lightweight Round of 32 — Simranjit Kaur- From 7:30 AM Wednesday, July 28 to Sunday, August 8: All Categories (Round of 16, Final Rounds, and Medal Matches) — if boxers qualify- TBA EQUESTRIAN: July 30: Eventing Individual Qualifier (Dressage Individual Session 1 & 2) — Fouaad Mirza, from 5 AM FENCING: Monday, July 26- Women’s Sabre Individual Table of 64 — CA Bhavani Devi- From 5:30 AM Monday, July 26- Women’s Sabre Individual Subsequent Rounds and Medal Matches — CA Bhavani Devi (if qualifies)- From 6:25 AM GOLF: Thursday, July 29- Men’s Individual Strokeplay Round 1 — Anirban Lahiri, Udayan Mane- From 4 AM Friday, July 30- Men’s Individual Strokeplay Round 2 — Anirban Lahiri, Udayan Mane- From 4 AM Saturday, July 31- Men’s Individual Strokeplay Round 3 — Anirban Lahiri, Udayan Mane- From 4 AM Sunday, August 1- Men’s Individual Strokeplay Medal Round — Anirban Lahiri, Udayan Mane- From 4 AM Wednesday, August 4- Women’s Individual Strokeplay Round 1 — Aditi Ashok- From 4 AM Thursday, August 5- Women’s Individual Strokeplay Round 2 — Aditi Ashok- From 4 AM Friday, August 6- Women’s Individual Strokeplay Round 3 — Aditi Ashok- From 4 AM Saturday, August 7- Women’s Individual Strokeplay Medal Round — Aditi Ashok- From 4 AM HOCKEY: Saturday, July 24- Men’s Pool A — India vs New Zealand- From 6:30 AM Saturday, July 24- Women’s Pool A — India vs Netherlands- From 4:15 PM July 25: Men’s Pool A — India vs Australia- From 3 PM July 26: Women’s Pool A — India vs Germany- From 5:45 PM July 27: Men’s Pool A — India vs Spain- From 6:30 AM July 28: Women’s Pool A — India vs Great Britain- From 6:30 AM July 29: Men’s Pool A — India vs Argentina- From 6 AM July 30: Women’s Pool A — India vs Ireland- From 8:15 AM July 30: Men’s Pool A — India vs Japan- From 3 PM July 31: Women’s Pool A — India vs South Africa- From 8:45 AM August 1: Men’s Quarter-Final — if qualify- From 6 AM August 2: Women’s Quarter-Final — if qualify- From 6 AM August 3: Men’s Semi-Final — if qualify- From 7 AM August 4: Women’s Semi-Final — if qualify- From 7 AM August 5: Men’s Medal Matches — if qualify- From7 AM and 3:30 PM August 6: Women’s Medal Matches — if qualify- From 7 AM and 3:30 PM JUDO: Saturday, July 24- Women’s 48kg Round of 32, Successive Rounds — Sushila Devi Likmabam- From 7:30 AM July 25: Women’s 48kg Medal Matches — Sushila Devi Likmabam (if qualifies)-TBA SHOOTING: Saturday, July 24- Women’s 10m Air Rifle Qualification — Elavenil Valarivan, Apurvi Chandela- From 5 AM Saturday, July 24- Men’s 10m Air Pistol Qualification — Saurabh Chaudhary, Abhishek Verma- From 9:30 AM Saturday, July 24- Women’s 10m Air Rifle Final — Elavenil Valarivan, Apurvi Chandela (if qualify)- From 10:15 AM Saturday, July 24- Men’s 10m Air Pistol Final — Saurabh Chaudhary, Abhishek Verma (if qualify)- From 12 PM Sunday, July 25- Women’s 10m Air Pistol Qualification — Manu Bhaker, Yashaswini Singh Deswal- From 5:30 AM Sunday, July 25- Skeet Men’s Qualification Day 1 — Angad Vir Singh Bajwa, Mairaj Ahmed Khan- From 6 AM Sunday, July 25- Women’s 10m Air Pistol Final — Manu Bhaker, Yashaswini Singh Deswal (if qualify)- From 7:45 AM Sunday, July 25- Men’s 10m Air Rifle Qualification — Deepak Kumar, Divyansh Singh Panwar- From 9:30 AM Sunday, July 25- Men’s 10m Air Rifle Final — Deepak Kumar, Divyansh Singh Panwar (if qualify)- From 12 PM Sunday, July 25- Skeet Men’s Qualification Day 2 — Angad Vir Singh Bajwa, Mairaj Ahmed Khan- From 6:30 AM Sunday, July 25- Skeet Men’s Final — Angad Vir Singh Bajwa, Mairaj Ahmed Khan- From 12:10 PM Monday, July 26- 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team Qualification — Saurabh Chaudhary/Manu Bhaker, Abhishek Verma/Yashaswini Singh Deswal- From 5:30 AM Monday, July 26-10m Air Pistol Mixed Team Bronze and Gold Medal Matches — Saurabh Chaudhary/Manu Bhaker, Abhishek Verma/Yashaswini Singh Deswal- From 7:30 AM Monday, July 26- 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team Qualification — Divyansh Singh Panwar/Elavenil Valarivan, Deepak Kumar/Anjum Moudgil- From 9:45 AM Monday, July 26- 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team Bronze and Gold Medal Matches — Divyansh Singh Panwar/Elavenil Valarivan, Deepak Kumar/Anjum Moudgil (if qualify)- From 11:45 AM Thursday, July 29- Women’s 25m Pistol Qualification Precision — Manu Bhaker, Rahi Sarnobat- From 5:30 AM Friday, July 30- Women’s 25m Pistol Qualification Rapid — Manu Bhaker, Rahi Sarnoba- From 5:30 AM Friday, July 30- Women’s 25m Pistol Final — Manu Bhaker, Rahi Sarnobat (if qualify)- From 10:20 AM Saturday, July 31- Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Position Qualification — Anjum Moudgil, Tejaswini Sawant- From 8:30 AM Saturday, July 31- Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Position Final — Anjum Moudgil, Tejaswini Sawant (if qualify)- From 1:30 PM Monday, August 2- Men’s 50m Rifle 3 Position Qualification — Sanjeev Rajput, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar- From7 AM Monday, August 2- Men’s 50m Rifle 3 Position Final — Sanjeev Rajput, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar (if qualify)- From 1:10 PM SWIMMING: Sunday, July 25- Men’s 100m Backstroke Heats — Srihari Nataraj- From 3:30 PM Sunday, July 25- Women’s 100m Backstroke Heats — Maana Patel- From 3:30 PM Sunday, July 25- Men’s 200m Freestyle Heats — Sajan Prakash- From 4:10 PM Monday, July 26- Men’s 200m Butterfly Heats — Sajan Prakash- From 3:30 PM Thursday, July 29- Men’s 100m Butterfly Heats — Sajan Prakash- From 4:10 PM TABLE TENNIS: Saturday, July 24 to Tuesday, July 27- Men’s and Women’s Singles Round 1, 2 and 3 — G Sathiyan, Sharath Kamal, Manika Batra, Sutirtha Mukherjee- From 5:30 AM Saturday, July 24- Mixed Doubles Round of 16 — Sharath Kamal/Manika Batra- From 7:45 AM Sunday, July 25- Mixed Doubles Quarter-Final and Semi-Final — Sharath Kamal/Manika Batra- From 6:30 AM- From Monday, July 26- Mixed Doubles Medal Matches — Sharath Kamal/Manika Batra- From 5:30 PM Thursday, July 29- Women’s Singles Medal Matches — Manika Batra, Sutirtha Mukherjee (if qualify)- From 5:30 PM Friday, July 30- Men’s Singles Medal Matches — G Sathiyan, Sharath Kamal (if qualify)- From 5:30 PM TENNIS: Saturday, July 24 to Sunday, August 1: Women’s Doubles — Sania Mirza, Ankita Raina- TBA Saturday, July 24 to Sunday, August 1: Men's Singles- Sumit Nagal- TBA WEIGHTLIFTING: Saturday, July 24- Women’s 49kg Group B — Mirabai Chanu- From 6:20 AM Saturday, July 24- Women’s 49kg Medal Round — Mirabai Chanu (if qualify)- From 10:20 AM WRESTLING: Tuesday, August 3- Women’s Freestyle 62kg Round of 16 and Quarter-Finals — Sonam Malik- From 8 AM Tuesday, August 3- Women’s Freestyle 62kg Semi-Final — Sonam Malik (if qualifies)- Later in the day Wednesday, August 4- Women’s Freestyle 62kg Repechages — Sonam Malik (if qualifies)- From 7:30 AM Wednesday, August 4- Women’s Freestyle 62kg Medal Matches — Sonam Malik (if qualifies)- Later in the day Wednesday, August 4- Women’s Freestyle 57kg Round of 16 and Quater-Finals — Anshu Malik- From 8 AM Wednesday, August 4- Women’s Freestyle 57kg Semi-Finals — Anshu Malik (if qualifies)- Later in the day Wednesday, August 4- Men’s Freestyle 57kg Round of 16 and Quarter-Finals — Ravi Kumar Dahiya- From 8 AM Wednesday, August 4- Men’s Freestyle 57kg Semi-Finals — Ravi Kumar Dahiya (if qualifies)- Later in the day Wednesday, August 4- Men’s Freestyle 86kg Round of 16 and Quarter-Finals — Deepak Punia- From 8 AM Wednesday, August 4- Men’s Freestyle 86kg Semi-Finals — Deepak Punia (if qualifies)- Later in the day Thursday, August 5- Women’s Freestyle 57kg Final, Men’s Freestyle 57kg and Men’s Freestyle 86kg Repechages and Medal Matches — Anshu Malik, Ravi Kumar Dahiya, Deepak Punia- From 7:30 AM Thursday, August 5- Women’s Freestyle 53kg Round of 16 and Quarter-Finals — Vinesh Phogat- From 8 AM Thursday, August 5- Women’s Freestyle 53kg Semi-Finals — Vinesh Phogat (if qualifies)- Later in the day Thursday, August 6- Women’s Freestyle 53kg Repechages — Vinesh Phogat (if qualifies)- From 7:30 AM Friday, August 6- Women’s Freestyle 53kg Medal Matches — Vinesh Phogat (if qualifies)- Later in the day Friday, August 6- Men’s Freestyle 65kg Round of 16 and Quarter-Finals — Bajrang Punia- From 8 AM Friday, August 6- Men’s Freestyle 65kg Semi-Finals — Bajrang Punia (if qualifies)- Later in the day Friday, August 6- Women’s Freestyle 50kg Round of 16 and Quarter-Finals — Seema Bisla- From 8 AM Friday, August 6- Women’s Freestyle 50kg Semi-Final — Seema Bisla (if qualifies)- Later in the day Saturday, August 7- Men’s Freestyle 65kg Repechage and Medal Matches — Bajrang Punia (if qualifies)- From 7:30 AM and later in the day Saturday, August 7- Women’s Freestyle 50kg Repechage and Medal Matches — Seema Bisla (if qualifies)- From 7:30 AM and Later in the day

Tokyo 2020: All you need to know about India's schedule in Olympics

Two athletes have tested COVID-19 positive in the Tokyo Olympic Village after a team colleague was also infected raising fears of a cluster just days before the opening ceremony.

Coronavirus Update: Two athletes test positive in Athletes' village in Tokyo

From Roger Federer to Serena Williams: Tennis aces who are set to miss Tokyo Olympics

Two athletes have tested positive for the coronavirus in the Tokyo Olympic Village after a team colleague was also infected, officials said on Sunday, raising fears of a cluster just days before the opening ceremony.

The first cases involving athletes in the Village come a day after a member of their entourage returned the first positive test in the complex, which will house thousands of athletes.

The three infections were revealed as competitors fly in from around the world for the pandemic-delayed Olympics, which are facing significant opposition in Japan due to their Covid risks.

Tokyo 2020 spokesman Masa Takaya said the three cases "were from the same country and sport". They are "isolated in their rooms and Tokyo 2020 is delivering meals to them", he said, adding that the rest of the team have also been tested. The team was not identified.

The Olympic Village, a complex of apartments and dining areas in Tokyo, will house 6,700 athletes and officials at its peak when the delayed 2020 Games finally get underway.

The Tokyo Games, which will be held largely behind closed doors to prevent infections, are unpopular in Japan where opinion polls have consistently demonstrated a lack of support.

Olympic officials have been at pains to play down the health risks of the Games, which are taking place in stringent anti-coronavirus conditions with athletes tested daily.

"Mingling and crossing of populations is very limited. We keep the risk to an absolute minimum level," Olympic Games executive director Christophe Dubi said on Sunday.

"We can ensure that transmission between the various groups is almost impossible."

Fifty-five cases linked to the Games, which open on Friday, have been discovered this month, including four athletes.

South Korean IOC member Ryu Seung-men tested positive on arrival in Japan and was placed in isolation, a spokesman for the Olympic body said.

On Saturday, International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach appealed for Japanese fans to show support, saying he was "very well aware of the scepticism" surrounding the Games.

Athletes are arriving to find a restrictive environment, with daily testing, social distancing and no movement possible outside the Olympic "bubble". They are under orders to leave Japan 48 hours after their event.

In another example of the difficulties, Australia's entire athletics team was quarantined before departure after a member of their entourage returned an inconclusive test. The official later tested negative.

"We expect that there'll be cases associated with these Games and really what's going to matter is how we respond to that and to ensure that there's no complacency," said David Hughes, medical director of the Australian Olympic team.

Australia has 194 athletes in the Olympic Village backed by support staff including psychologists to help them deal with the "extra strain" of the anti-Covid measures.

Australian basketball star Liz Cambage was one of the athletes to pull out of the Games, citing mental health fears, while tennis player Nick Kyrgios withdrew due to the lack of fans.

Australian chef de mission Ian Chesterman said a "buoyant" mood in the camp was tempered by caution over possible mental health problems in the unusual environment.

"The mood and everything is sort of buoyant and excited to be here, and that we're conscious of the fact that it's like no other," he said.

"We have to make sure that athlete, mental health and wellbeing is at the forefront of all their thinking."

On Saturday, Games chief Seiko Hashimoto admitted athletes are "probably very worried" about coming to Japan, pledging full transparency over Covid cases.

Japanese and Olympic officials have also been forced onto the defensive over a welcoming reception for Bach attended by 40 people while Tokyo remains under a coronavirus state of emergency.

Two athletes have tested positive for the coronavirus in the Tokyo Olympic Village after a team colleague was also infected, officials said on Sunday, raising fears of a cluster just days before the opening ceremony.

Two athletes have tested positive for the coronavirus in the Tokyo Olympic Village after a team colleague was also infected, officials said on Sunday, raising fears of a cluster just days before the opening ceremony. The first cases involving athletes in the Village come a day after a member of their entourage returned the first positive test in the complex, which will house thousands of athletes. The three infections were revealed as competitors fly in from around the world for the pandemic-delayed Olympics, which are facing significant opposition in Japan due to their Covid risks. Tokyo 2020 spokesman Masa Takaya said the three cases "were from the same country and sport". They are "isolated in their rooms and Tokyo 2020 is delivering meals to them", he said, adding that the rest of the team have also been tested. The team was not identified. The Olympic Village, a complex of apartments and dining areas in Tokyo, will house 6,700 athletes and officials at its peak when the delayed 2020 Games finally get underway. The Tokyo Games, which will be held largely behind closed doors to prevent infections, are unpopular in Japan where opinion polls have consistently demonstrated a lack of support. Olympic officials have been at pains to play down the health risks of the Games, which are taking place in stringent anti-coronavirus conditions with athletes tested daily. "Mingling and crossing of populations is very limited. We keep the risk to an absolute minimum level," Olympic Games executive director Christophe Dubi said on Sunday. "We can ensure that transmission between the various groups is almost impossible." Fifty-five cases linked to the Games, which open on Friday, have been discovered this month, including four athletes. South Korean IOC member Ryu Seung-men tested positive on arrival in Japan and was placed in isolation, a spokesman for the Olympic body said. On Saturday, International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach appealed for Japanese fans to show support, saying he was "very well aware of the scepticism" surrounding the Games. Athletes are arriving to find a restrictive environment, with daily testing, social distancing and no movement possible outside the Olympic "bubble". They are under orders to leave Japan 48 hours after their event. In another example of the difficulties, Australia's entire athletics team was quarantined before departure after a member of their entourage returned an inconclusive test. The official later tested negative. "We expect that there'll be cases associated with these Games and really what's going to matter is how we respond to that and to ensure that there's no complacency," said David Hughes, medical director of the Australian Olympic team. Australia has 194 athletes in the Olympic Village backed by support staff including psychologists to help them deal with the "extra strain" of the anti-Covid measures. Australian basketball star Liz Cambage was one of the athletes to pull out of the Games, citing mental health fears, while tennis player Nick Kyrgios withdrew due to the lack of fans. Australian chef de mission Ian Chesterman said a "buoyant" mood in the camp was tempered by caution over possible mental health problems in the unusual environment. "The mood and everything is sort of buoyant and excited to be here, and that we're conscious of the fact that it's like no other," he said. "We have to make sure that athlete, mental health and wellbeing is at the forefront of all their thinking." On Saturday, Games chief Seiko Hashimoto admitted athletes are "probably very worried" about coming to Japan, pledging full transparency over Covid cases. Japanese and Olympic officials have also been forced onto the defensive over a welcoming reception for Bach attended by 40 people while Tokyo remains under a coronavirus state of emergency.

Tokyo 2020: Olympic cluster scare as athletes test positive in Games Village

Protecting the integrity of sport at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, is a top priority for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) thus the IOC Executive Board (EB) was updated on Saturday about the measures put in place for Games time -- aimed at both preventing and dealing swiftly with competition manipulation.Sports betting on all Olympic competitions have been monitored since the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008, and Tokyo 2020 will be no exception.&nbsp;

The Olympic Movement Unit on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions (OM Unit PMC), with its partners -- namely Sportradar, the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA), the Global Lottery Monitoring System (GLMS), major regulating authorities, and a large number of private sports betting companies from around the world -- will monitor sports betting on all Olympic competitions at this summer`s Olympic Games.The IOC will retain a direct link with all International Federations (IFs) in order to flag any breach of the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions (OM Code PMC). It is equipped to carry out a preliminary investigation and assist with the set-up of a Disciplinary Commission if necessary. In addition, the IOC will cooperate closely with various law enforcement authorities to address any cases where collective and joint follow-up is appropriate and necessary.

Paquerette Girard Zappelli, IOC Chief Ethics, and Compliance Officer said in a release: "During the last years, we have been working with Tokyo 2020, international police forces, and national authorities to set up the necessary processes and coordinate actions for Games time. &nbsp;As a sports organisation, the IOC can deal with disciplinary matters related to the Olympic Games, and we will have in place a dedicated Disciplinary Commission for cases of competition manipulation and other integrity breaches. For all criminal and security matters, we will of course rely on the Japanese authorities and their jurisdiction."

Following PyeongChang 2018, this is the second Games edition where all the measures outlined will be overseen by the dedicated OM Unit PMC, set up by the IOC in 2017 and an integral part of the IOC Ethics and Compliance Office. This Unit oversees the implementation of the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions, which forms part of the Olympic Charter. It aims to provide sports organisations with harmonised regulations to protect all competitions from the risk of manipulation and support them to develop effective activities against the threat.

Protecting the integrity of sport at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, is a top priority for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) thus the IOC Executive Board (EB) was updated on Saturday about the measures put in place for Games time -- aimed at both preventing and dealing swiftly with competition manipulation.

Protecting the integrity of sport at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, is a top priority for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) thus the IOC Executive Board (EB) was updated on Saturday about the measures put in place for Games time -- aimed at both preventing and dealing swiftly with competition manipulation.Sports betting on all Olympic competitions have been monitored since the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008, and Tokyo 2020 will be no exception. The Olympic Movement Unit on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions (OM Unit PMC), with its partners -- namely Sportradar, the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA), the Global Lottery Monitoring System (GLMS), major regulating authorities, and a large number of private sports betting companies from around the world -- will monitor sports betting on all Olympic competitions at this summer`s Olympic Games.The IOC will retain a direct link with all International Federations (IFs) in order to flag any breach of the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions (OM Code PMC). It is equipped to carry out a preliminary investigation and assist with the set-up of a Disciplinary Commission if necessary. In addition, the IOC will cooperate closely with various law enforcement authorities to address any cases where collective and joint follow-up is appropriate and necessary. Paquerette Girard Zappelli, IOC Chief Ethics, and Compliance Officer said in a release: "During the last years, we have been working with Tokyo 2020, international police forces, and national authorities to set up the necessary processes and coordinate actions for Games time. As a sports organisation, the IOC can deal with disciplinary matters related to the Olympic Games, and we will have in place a dedicated Disciplinary Commission for cases of competition manipulation and other integrity breaches. For all criminal and security matters, we will of course rely on the Japanese authorities and their jurisdiction." Following PyeongChang 2018, this is the second Games edition where all the measures outlined will be overseen by the dedicated OM Unit PMC, set up by the IOC in 2017 and an integral part of the IOC Ethics and Compliance Office. This Unit oversees the implementation of the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions, which forms part of the Olympic Charter. It aims to provide sports organisations with harmonised regulations to protect all competitions from the risk of manipulation and support them to develop effective activities against the threat.

Tokyo 2020: IOC to monitor sports betting on all Olympic competitions

The Tokyo Olympics has registered its first COVID-19 case in the Olympic Village six days before the Games open. Watch this report to know more.

Organisers confirm first case of COVID-19 at Olympic Village

World number one Novak Djokovic confirmed he will compete at the Tokyo Olympics as the Serb remains on course to achieve the Golden Slam in tennis.

Djokovic completed the third leg towards achieving the Golden Slam last weekend when he added the Wimbledon title to his Australian Open and Roland Garros triumphs in 2021.

No man has ever won the four slams and Olympic gold in the same year, with Germany's Steffi Graf the only player to accomplish the feat in 1988.

After winning at Wimbledon, Djokovic said he was "50-50" about competing at the July 23-Aug. 8 Games following the organisers' decision to ban fans from attending and the restrictions on the number of people he can take to the Games.

But the 34-year-old said on Thursday he had booked his flight for Tokyo.

"I am very proud to pack for Tokyo and join our national team in the fight for the brightest medals on the Olympic arenas," Djokovic, who won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Games, tweeted.

"For me, the game for Serbia has always been a special joy and motivation and I will do my best to make us all happy! Let's go."

Some of the sport's biggest names, including Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Serena Williams, Stan Wawrinka and Simona Halep have already announced their decision to skip the Games, which has been delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

World number one Novak Djokovic confirmed he will compete at the Tokyo Olympics as the Serb remains on course to achieve the Golden Slam in tennis. Djokovic completed the third leg towards achieving the Golden Slam last weekend when he added the Wimbledon title to his Australian Open and Roland Garros triumphs in 2021.

World number one Novak Djokovic confirmed he will compete at the Tokyo Olympics as the Serb remains on course to achieve the Golden Slam in tennis. Djokovic completed the third leg towards achieving the Golden Slam last weekend when he added the Wimbledon title to his Australian Open and Roland Garros triumphs in 2021. No man has ever won the four slams and Olympic gold in the same year, with Germany's Steffi Graf the only player to accomplish the feat in 1988. After winning at Wimbledon, Djokovic said he was "50-50" about competing at the July 23-Aug. 8 Games following the organisers' decision to ban fans from attending and the restrictions on the number of people he can take to the Games. But the 34-year-old said on Thursday he had booked his flight for Tokyo. "I am very proud to pack for Tokyo and join our national team in the fight for the brightest medals on the Olympic arenas," Djokovic, who won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Games, tweeted. "For me, the game for Serbia has always been a special joy and motivation and I will do my best to make us all happy! Let's go." Some of the sport's biggest names, including Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Serena Williams, Stan Wawrinka and Simona Halep have already announced their decision to skip the Games, which has been delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Olympics: Tennis star Novak Djokovic confirms he will compete at Tokyo Games

India’s journey at the Olympics is synonymous with the sport of Hockey. India won six consecutive Gold medals in the sport on either side of the Second World War and the run yielded 8 Gold medals, a silver and two bronze medals. The trophy cabinet has been barren since 1980 but the Men’s team heads into Tokyo as contenders on merit and not due to sentimental reasons. Chief Coach Graham Reid, Captain Manpreet Singh and Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh spoke about their preparations for the Games with Sports Editor Digvijay Singh Deo.

WION Sports | Road to Tokyo: Indian men's Hockey team special

A foreign athlete and five Olympic workers in Japan have tested positive for COVID-19 just over a week before the opening ceremony. This has raised new concerns about the spread of coronavirus at a global sporting event.

An athlete, 5 Olympic workers test positive for COVID as opening ceremony nears

Badminton world champion PV Sindhu has talked about her preparations for Tokyo Olympics despite a forced break due to the coronavirus pandemic. As per the Rio 2016 silver medalist, the break gave her enough time to work on her skills and technique.&nbsp;

IN PICS|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-roger-federer-to-serena-williams-tennis-aces-who-are-set-to-miss-tokyo-olympics-398188" hreflang="en">Federer to Williams: Tennis aces who are set to miss Tokyo Olympics</a>

"I think the (break during) pandemic was very useful because I got to learn more and focus more on my technique and skills so I would say definitely it has (helped)," the Indian badminton superstar said in a virtual interaction.

"It did not impact my preparation much for the Olympics because I think I've got enough time. Generally, it's more like when you go for a tournament come back and train."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-olympics-athlete-from-uganda-goes-missing-in-japan-reports-398430" hreflang="en">Tokyo Olympics: Athlete from Uganda goes missing in Japan - Reports</a>

"Most of the time, we don't have enough time to train. So I think this was the first time that we've got enough time to actually train and get ready for the Olympics. I don't think it has impacted on my preparations -- not at all. In fact, I've actually learned a lot more, and I'm prepared for it."

Sindhu is India's only entry in the Tokyo Olympics and is placed in group j along with lower-ranked Polikarpova Ksenia of Israel and Hong Kong's Cheung Ngan Yi.

"I'm sure there will be expectations, responsibilities like always but I just hope that with your love and support, I'm gonna be there, get a medal and come back to the country," she said.

World number 7, PV Sindhu, also added that she would miss playing in front of fans as the Games will be held behind closed doors.&nbsp;

"I'm going to miss a lot of fans. Back then in Rio it was very different. But I think we have to get used to the situation, the new normal. Overall, we are also practising in a way where you know we need to get used to it," she concluded.&nbsp;

Badminton world champion PV Sindhu has talked about her preparations for Tokyo Olympics despite a forced break due to the coronavirus pandemic. As per the Rio 2016 silver medalist, the break gave her enough time to work on her skills and technique.

Badminton world champion PV Sindhu has talked about her preparations for Tokyo Olympics despite a forced break due to the coronavirus pandemic. As per the Rio 2016 silver medalist, the break gave her enough time to work on her skills and technique. IN PICS| Federer to Williams: Tennis aces who are set to miss Tokyo Olympics "I think the (break during) pandemic was very useful because I got to learn more and focus more on my technique and skills so I would say definitely it has (helped)," the Indian badminton superstar said in a virtual interaction. "It did not impact my preparation much for the Olympics because I think I've got enough time. Generally, it's more like when you go for a tournament come back and train." ALSO READ: Tokyo Olympics: Athlete from Uganda goes missing in Japan - Reports "Most of the time, we don't have enough time to train. So I think this was the first time that we've got enough time to actually train and get ready for the Olympics. I don't think it has impacted on my preparations -- not at all. In fact, I've actually learned a lot more, and I'm prepared for it." Sindhu is India's only entry in the Tokyo Olympics and is placed in group j along with lower-ranked Polikarpova Ksenia of Israel and Hong Kong's Cheung Ngan Yi. "I'm sure there will be expectations, responsibilities like always but I just hope that with your love and support, I'm gonna be there, get a medal and come back to the country," she said. World number 7, PV Sindhu, also added that she would miss playing in front of fans as the Games will be held behind closed doors. "I'm going to miss a lot of fans. Back then in Rio it was very different. But I think we have to get used to the situation, the new normal. Overall, we are also practising in a way where you know we need to get used to it," she concluded.

'Pandemic was very useful': Badminton ace PV Sindhu on Tokyo Olympics' preparation

tokyo-olympics

Tokyo Olympics, News on Tokyo Olympics, stories on Tokyo Olympics, articles on Tokyo Olympics, Tokyo Olympics stories at Wion, Tokyo Olympics news, Tokyo Olympics latest news

tokyo olympics